CAPRICORN CRAFTS

Valentine Amour....

2012-02-10T15:22:00.002Z

Hi everyone hope you are all warm and cosy in this awful weather, we didn't get much snow but it is bitterly cold with some snow flurries a great excuse to stay in and craft!
My make this morning I think will be my last with a Valentine theme, I can't remember the last time I made so many projects with a hearts or Love theme. We do not normally give cards to each other but I do get a very large bouquet at Valentines......when I saw the sketch at Sketch Saturday I fell in love and just had to use it to make a Valentine card for DH......he will be very surprised lol!!!
Week #193 sketch challenge is sponsored by Art Journey and I adore their stamps unfortunately I do not own any but they are on my ever growing wish list.

I have turned the sketch for my card hope this was ok and used card, paper and stamps from Stampin' Up! Ink Tim Holtz distress colours fired brick and black soot.

My card base is kraft, Nestabilities were cut from kraft and very vanilla, inked and stamped from Artistic Etchings set, all the paper used is from a retired SU set sorry can't remember the name, hearts were punched with SU 3 heart punch, finally I added some bling...just a little......because I can...lol.

I will also be joining
Artistic Stamper Challenge - Hearts
Joanna Sheen challenge - Love is in the Air
Try it on Tuesday challenge - A Lurve 'ting
Cards for men challenge - Seeing Red
Welcome to my new followers and to all of you that have stopped by and left comments, I really do appreciated them all.

'till next time

Filled with Love........

2012-02-09T17:53:00.000Z

.............. is the theme at the Craft Barn Blog for February's AJ page we have been asked to fill hearts with the things we love, instantly I knew I would fill my hearts with Stamping, Embossing and Distress Inks. My first love has to be Stamps and I will never forget how impressed I was with heat embossing when I first saw a demonstration in my early years of crafting (18 years ago..) and this has never left me, also dry embossing was a thing I loved to do but with a light box this was not a quick job, then along came machines embossing folders and the rest is history as they say so quick and so effective now, couple these with Distress Inks.....hooray to the King of Grunge Tim Holtz and I am in heaven. So to my page the background was covered with pool paint dabber which I dragged across randomly and filled in with distress ink broken china, this was then stamped with text and butterflies and the paint lid dipped in pool paint, with a piece of corrugated card which I inked with white and yellow paint I stamped lines in various places, and made splodges with picket fence distress stain.

Background for my journal heart was broken china DI stamped with dried marigold, I find writing journaling in my own hand difficult....but I did it!!

Dry embossed heart on background of DI's and

Background DI stamped with TH stamp and embossed with cosmic shimmer embossing powder.

I have had a great morning getting inky and painty making this page, hope you enjoy looking!

Blogger was not playing nicely and it has taken forever to load these pics.....I very nearly had given up!!!! Aghhhhhhhhhhhhh blogger!!!!!!!!!!!

need a cup of tea now to unwind....... Thanks for the challenge hope there is another one next month pleeeeeeeese :-)

.'till next time

Grungy Love ATC

2012-02-07T19:49:00.000Z

2 posts in one day and another ATC to share, I love making them and when I saw what the challenge this week at Grungy Monday week#35: A Holtzian ATC........ how could I not make another of these little jems after all reaching for my TIm Holtz stash is what I love to do!!!!
So here is my Grungy Love ATC

Background was made with DI's fired brick and worn lipstick then stamped (TH stamps) with fired brick and picket fence distress stains sentiment and heart were stamped with black DI and black embossing powder, Tissue tape was pleated accross the bottom of my ATC and a flower made with the same tape, I added an ideology brad to the centre. Love was stamped onto a seperate piece of card and embossed with black, background was same colours as before, then slotted into an ideology pin and inserted behind the flower so that it stands away from the main card......sorry should have taken a photo of it from the side......

I will also be joining

The Artistic Stamper challenge - Hearts

Sunday Stamper #191 - which is also Hearts

So much Lurve in the air!!!

Thanks for stopping by 'till next time

Mermaids....

2012-02-07T11:56:00.000Z

Oh my where does the time go to can anyone tell me what happens to the days as they seem to wiz by while I'm not looking.......or is it just an age thing!!!!!!!! lol.

I have made another ATC for the Wicked Wednesday challenge #17 which ends today!! Now when I saw the theme Mermaids I knew I had just the stamp.....as I've said many times I cannot draw...well I searched on and off all weekend where oh where was it......... now I know my crafty room is a tad on the untidy side....rofl.....basically it is a mess but I know where everything is or thought I did and my stamps are my little treasures and I keep them altogether so couldn't understand why this stamp had gone missing, well I had given up when in a light bulb moment I remembered I had loaned it to a friend with some other things and maybe just maybe I hadn't put it back in its place.......who me!!!!!.....never......yep I had left it in the box she had returned my things..........such joy......so I stamped and painted before I went to Doctors this morning to have blood test and finished assembling it when I got back.

Main background is distress ink swooshed onto Manila card, Mermaid was stamped in grey Memento Ink and painted with Distress Inks wild honey, dried marigold, spun sugar, tumbled glass, broken china, Mermaids tail was painted with a mix of broken china and cosmic shimmer paints, shells and hair band were also cosmic shimmer...it does shimmer in rl...honest! Lastly I added a real shell from my large collection of beachcombing stash. Stamp is one I have had for years and years and there is no name on the block, I cut the images out and arranged on my background.
So glad I managed to play again this week even though it's last minuet again!

Aqua and LIM

2012-02-04T15:39:00.000Z

Who stole the week last time I looked it was Monday....... and today we are slowly being snowed in it has been snowing since 11.00am this morning and is getting heavier now....glad I had decided to stay put today and do some crafting. LIM is celebrating their 1st birthday and the Challenge for week 53 is Colour - AQUA.
Aqua is a favourite colour of mine and so how could I not go over and play.....here is my card.

The panel was made by inking my embossing folder before embossing on white card, I have to say this is another favourite technique of mine I love the effects you can get, I used Baja Breeze and Whisper White SU card mounted onto Baja Breeze, sentiment was inked around the edges with same ink.
Congratulations to Chrissie and Mandi even though I am not a regular I do enjoy this challenge and pop in as often as time allows. My card is for you both to say thanks for the challenges and here's to another enjoyable year.

Have a great weekend
From a very snowy place....'till next time

Nursery Rhymes.........

2012-01-31T16:00:00.000Z

Today the electrician has fitted some new energy saving lights in the kitchen and the hall hopefully they will help to reduce the electricity bill!!!!!!! So this is a quick post as I have all the cleaning up to do now ........yuk! So in between making tea for the electrician.....you have to keep them sweet lol.....I have also been catching up on some crafting and have managed to make some ATC's, some are for a forum swap and one for the challenge over at Wicked Wednesday #16 Fairy Tales/ Nursery Rhymes I have chosen Nursery Rhymes and have used a Free Stamp with Craft Stamper Magazine..... to make Cock-a-doodle-doo.

Cock-a-doodle-do my dame
has lost her shoe
my master has lost his fiddling stick
and doesn't know what to do
Background was a piece I had already in my ATC box and it looks like I used a cosmic shimmer spray
I stamped the Cockerel in versamark and embossed with black EP stamped him out again and coloured using DI's wild honey, fired brick, pine needles, the shoe was cut from a magazine....can you believe I didn't have one shoe stamp that was suitable!... violin charm was in my stash mounted onto a dark blue piece of card.
I am a bit late with this challenge but was determined to play especially as I was the lucky winner last week.....thanks Jenn.

Thanks for all the lovely comments left on my first Chunky ATC here

Bye for now

Love Me Do..........

2012-01-25T16:38:00.001Z

You know when your browsing blogland or perusing magazines for inspiration and you find something that you know you must make and you add it to your to do list and there it stays........yeah I know you are all with me here.......well, I did just that a few months ago and while looking through the challenges I would like to enter the other day, one being My Mojo Monthly challenge- Play Petite where I have wanted to play for sometime, Sarah had made a Chunky ATC and yes you've guessed it this was at the top of my to do list to make.....so DH was given his orders to come back with ATC (blank look from DH) sized pieces of wood from his workshop... after giving him the measurements (now I had his attention) I needed he returned home that same day with a bag full......yes imagine how excited I was.....he definitely has earned some brownie points....rofl.......sorry I'm rambling again.........Off I went to my room of craft to make my very first Chunky ATC.

I started by painting the wooden block with gesso when dry I painted red acrylic paint all over and stencilled small dots on front and back with black acrylic, when dry I dry brushed white acrylic randomly over all surfaces and lastly added Viva Inca Gold cream in places and all edges, I also rubbed this over embossed heart and round edges of the word Love. I rummaged in my bits and bobs box for most of the card for the embellishments, hearts and the word Love were cut with the slice machine.

Strips of music paper were painted with white acrylic and a lacy design punched on one edge, I added ribbon and buttons and bakers twine (both sides are the same).

For the back I stamped hearts onto music paper as before and card with free stamp from Craftstamper Magazine. I stamped the words to the song, well the only ones I could remember rofl....onto the hearts and added more buttons and twine. The base foot is a bottle top as is the top decoration with an added pearl.

Sarah from My Mojo Monthly asked that we said a few words about what gives us inspiration - for me that is easy I take inspiration from everything it maybe a colour a shape or just something pops into my head....its a bit of a jumble in their....also I get inspired by other blogs and magazines, I was truly inspired to make this chunky ATC as soon as I saw Sarah's, pop over and take a look and you may be inspired too. I have really enjoyed making my first Chunky ATC be warned these are as addictive as card ATC's and I'm sure I will be making more.......

I will joining in several other challenges too they are The Stampman - Use Red; Happy Daze - Try Something New (first Chunky ATC); Simon Says Show - A song Title - Love Me Do- The Beatles; It isn't often I enter this many challenges with 1 make but they all seemed to click together as I was crafting.....result and another first..rofl!!

Long post hope you didn't drop off until next time Happy Crafting

Pretty in Peach....

2012-01-23T15:56:00.000Z

Birthday Card
If you read my post yesterday you will know I attempted to make some birthday cards I need this week and my Mojo didn't want to play so I made an ATC instead, well this Morning I still needed a birthday card urgently so with Mojo still awol I used the challenge at LIM #51 Theme Cut it Out! for my inspiration.

After a rummage through my card I found this lovely shade of peach card blank I cut the Spellbinders die Butterfly Circles in white card which I then stencilled through the die after cutting with Distress Ink Wild Honey, the butterflies are from the die which I then stuck around the circle, I added Cosmic Shimmer Coloured Pearlescent PVA (love this stuff) to the centre of the butterflies and around the inner circle. Inside I attached the circle cut from the centre of the card and a smaller one in white card which I inked again with DI and stamped the greeting here is a close up

Stamps are from SU Whimsical Words and butterfly from Hello Again sets, the best wishes was loose and I'm not sure which set that has escaped from...lol

Another Photo from another angle so hard to get the inside to show up well, I was pleased with the end result and a refreshing change to use spring colours. As my friend is only a week younger than me I thought the sentiment was apt......I'm sure she will have something to say though....lol.

I will also like to play along at the Joanna Sheen Challenge blog the theme is " Celebrations"

Thanks for looking

Bye for now

Sewing Room

2012-01-22T17:50:00.000Z

Hellooooo long time no blog I have not been able to shake off this bug I caught at the beginning of January.....but I think at last I have got rid of it....shhhhh won't say that too loud...
So today I went into my room of craft and had a little play I had some birthday cards to make but they did not go well.......... so instead I made an ATC for Wicked Wednesday #15 ~Dress/Dress Forms as soon as I read the challenge my brain went down the path of sewing rooms and Dress Forms....must be because in a younger life I used to make all my clothes.... I dug out my Tim Holtz stamps Seamless Experience from Visual Artistry collection and this is what I made...

Background was cut from TH Kraft Resist Paper Pad, I used the one with vintage sewing patterns on. The dressform was stamped and embossed with Distress Embossing Powder I love the texture, I stamped part of the tape measure onto some binding , the spool circle which is so like the top of a cotton reel was stamped and embossed in black and Distress Stain broken china was used to colour the card I then crumpled it up before attaching.
So glad I was able to play this week I have missed joining in these challenges hope I will be back soon with some more crafting......

Bye for now

Colour Purple

2012-01-11T19:24:00.000Z

I haven't had the chance to play for a while at Less is More where the current challenge #49 is colour - Predominantly Purple
Mmmmmmm although I love the colour I find it really hard to craft with so armed with a large stamp I made a CAS card using just the stamp and purple ink, added a bit of glitter for bling and a jeweled gem brad - Purple of course.....

Stamp I used is SU Medallion a very large stamp, I really don't use this stamp often enough and it gets left on the shelf , so I am determined that I will use it much more in 2012, this said I thought it was ideal for this type of card, I used SU elegant eggplant ink to stamp image off the page, I then stamped the middle only with versamark and added Heat and Stick powder then added SU glitter, not sure what the colour is as I bought it about 2 years ago and its not marked on tub. This was then punched out and a jewel brad added to centre then circle was mounted with foam pads, greeting was added with same ink.
The light wasn't good today and photo has made the glitter look a different shade which is a shame as in real life the colour match is really good. I am pleased with the result and like the little bit of bling which lifts the design. Another Birthday card made..... I have so many Birthdays this month including mine at least I don't have to make that one!!! lol

Products used all Stampin' Up!
Medallion and Cheers and Wishes stamp sets, Ink Elegant Eggplant, Glitter and jewel brad, Whisper White Card blank and A4 sheet. Heat and Stick Powder.

Thanks for looking

Art Journal........

2012-01-11T10:06:00.000Z

My first page.......

I decided last year that I would try an Art Journal in 2012 and was very pleased that The Craft Barn Blog are running a challenge with plenty of inspiration.

The theme is Buildings and I doodled in my sketch book........ I warn you now that I cannot draw I can doodle a bit but this is why I love my Stamps...........the buildings that came into my head and used this as the inspiration for my page. As this is my first page I underestimated the drying times and my indecision what......where.......etc rofl......so this page seemed to take ages to do and then everything slotted into place and I really enjoyed the journey.... I welcome comments but please be gentle with me....this is my first time!!

My Journal is a pad of watercolour paper again wasn't sure what to use but though the watercolour paper may be more forgiving for the different product I will be using for the backgrounds. Background was made with Cosmic Shimmer Mists . The Houses were doodled onto book pages which I had coated with gesso, I then went over these with Distress inks using direct to paper technique. The road was made using bottle topps dipped in Denim Acyrlic paint. Stamps are Tim Holtz.

Thanks Izzy and Craft Barn for this challenge now I have dipped my toes in I can't wait to see what the next challenge is!!

Also thanks for the get well wishes, seem to be on the mend now cough is going and have more energy lately just as well as we have a month of birthdays in this family including mine...... there is one a week until the 21st soooo have lots of cards to make and DH birthday is tomorrow..... yikes........ at least I don't have to make one for me........

Products used Cosmic Shimmer Mists Aqua Lagoon, Bilbury Crush, Midnight Blue
Paint Adirondack dabbers Denim and pink sherbet, Inks Archival Black, Distress Inks Old Paper adn spun sugar; Stamps Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous; shabby french plate and going somewhere plate;
Old book pages; gesso

Bye for now

Flower Power....................

2012-01-09T20:25:00.000Z

..................Child of the 60's

Still trying to shake off this awful flu bug so haven't felt like crafting or anything else much this last week but today the theme for Wicked Wednesday Challenge #13 the 60's has been running through these mushy flu ridden grey cells of mine so after searching for inspiration in my papers and stamps I finally came up with this ATC.

Papers from My Minds Eye and Stamp Free with Craft Stamper Magazine, I doodled over the flowers on the background paper with gel pens and stamped the girl onto one of the papers placing stamp over a flower so it is on her cheek which I doodled over again with gel pens, also did same with the circles.
Great challenge Jenn so glad I managed to play!

bye for now

Altered Frame.......Sewing Room

2012-01-04T12:32:00.002Z

A Happy New Year to you all, unfortunately the new year has not started well here as I have been really poorly with a heavy cold/flu so today I thought I would look around blogland as I haven't been near the computer since Christmas and found The Stampman are running their 3rd Annual Award. All you need to do is present you favourite crafting project of 2011, this was an easy choice for me as my fav project is an altered frame Vintage Sewing Room click here for full details. This project is hanging proudly on my wall.

Hope to be back soon if I can shake this awful bug

Bye for now

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

2011-12-22T14:19:00.000Z

Thank you to all my followers for visiting my blog and leaving such lovely comments over the past year, I really do appreciate them. I will be back after the holidays as I'm having a little break to enjoy time with family and friends.
I wish you all A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

A Cold and Frosty Night...............

2011-12-20T11:11:00.001Z

............Christmas ATC's
Christmas is coming.........phew weekend over and already it is Tuesday and 4 days 'till Santa comes and we can all relax mmmmmmm.....anyway last night I realised I hadn't made my ATC for Wicked Wednesday theme this week is #10 Christmas or Winter Holidays so I spent a relaxing time in my little craft (looks like a bomb has gone off in there) room. As you know I followed Tim's 12 Tags of Cristmas and in a container I had all sorts of little bits and pieces left over waiting for me to use up so this was my inspiration for my ATC's.

Background was inked with DI tumbled glass, stormy skies, frayed burlap, vintage photo, snow is torn card with stickles added to top, trees were stamped (TH) in pine needles, snow was added with white pen finally the Deer had been cut from metal with TH alterations movers and shapers die embossed and painted with white paint and sanded back to show metal, a little piece of tinsel was added around the neck, Merry Christmas was Dymo tape and stapled on to ATC edges inke with frayed burlap. I really love this little Deer.....I got a little bit lost in the moment and didn't know when to stop........ended up with 3 altogether so will share them with you too..

ATC #2
Background was made with DI shabby shutters and pine needles, Merry Christmas stamped and embossed in black, the holly leaves are made with glassine paper...love this paper.....and coloured with alcohol inks and scrunched which I had cut out by hand, berries are beads coloured with alcohol inks, ribbon dyed with walnut stain and crumbled tied in bow and added twine bow

ATC #3
More rummaging in my container and I found part of a candle which I painted and added stickles too, I had lots of foliage left over and arranged this around the candle added a piece of Victorian lace tied with twine, the metal JOY is from my stash and I painted this with acrylic paint in green and added red berries, background was made with DI frayed burlip and antique linen for a soft colour I over stamped this lightly with a music stamp and added tissue tape around the edges.....
My inspiration and some of the techniques come from Tim Holtz 12 Tags of Christmas which I really enjoyed doing and of course learning new techniques too.

Also linking to Try it on Tuesday - Anything goes
Tim Holtz products used: Dies TH festive greenery, movers and shapers, candle stick, pine cone, tissue tape, Distress Inks,
Others ribbon, metal charm beads from stash

Got to dash now DH pressies to wrap while he is at work!!!!

bye for now

Blue and Sparkly.......

2011-12-19T16:56:00.046Z

The challenge for December over at Crafty Individuals is "All Wrapped Up" there are some fabulous inspiration projects to feast the eyes on pop over and have a look you won't be disappointed.
I have made a Christmas gift bag using CI - 137 stamp as the main image this is a non Christmas stamp but I think it works really well for any occasion I have added lots of bling to the project and it is product heavy I think I used everything that was close to hand......but if you can't indulge at Christmas when can you............lol :-)

I will list everything I used and try and keep the post as short as possible just so you don't drop off!!
,.Firstly my bag started life as a plain white carrier not sure where I got it as I have had it ages just waiting to be altered.... I inked over with Antique Linen DI to take away the bright white, stormy sky was added to the edges. Main image was stamped in stormy sky and antique linen was applied all over, stickles rock candy was added to the wings and waterfall to the edges. Next spellbinders teardrop circle was cut and then run through sizzix embossing folder swirls design and inked with same DI's, paper panels were from TH vintage shabby paper stack and border was cut with spellbinders ironworks die (top and bottom) edges inked with same DI's and waterfall stickles added to all edges. It really does sparkle in the light shame photo doesn't show it up too well. Lace from my stash. This was layered onto a white panel distressed with DI's and final panel is from TH distress collection pack and sanded before distressing all the edges.

Flower - was cut with tattered floral die stamped with papillon background stamp in grey Memento Ink and inked with DI's and jewel brad in centre, circle underneath is from spellbinders as before smaller size, spellbinders floral flourishes die was used to cut the swirls
Sorry photo a bit blurred!

Tag - for the tag I cut 2 more shapes from same paper stack with ironworks set glued together punched a circle from silver mirri board, teardrop circle was stamped Merry Christmas with tumbled glass DI, attached to the tag.

To finish more lace from my stash was tied in a bow to the handle.

I have had this lace for years and years I collect bundles of lace where ever I go and have quite a collection and only recently found some more which was hiding in the bottom of my sewing box! Apologies for the last two photos!! I must have had the shakes!!
Now bag is finished and sitting sparkling in the light I am not sure I want to give it away.......Oh dear does that mean I will have to make another.........rofl!
I will also be linking at another monthly challenge I like to enter The Artistic Stamper December challenge - Christmas, again there are some fabulous works of art for your inspiration over there. The third place I will be linking is Tando Creative Challenge Blog - Winter Festivals again plenty of inspiration here too.

By for now

Snowman and Friend................

2011-12-17T11:47:00.002Z

..........Scooby Doo

Today I would like to share with you the Christmas card I made for the very special little man in my life my Grandson who is absolutely smitten with Scooby Doo... he has loved him ever since he was about 3 and he will be 7 in January. I found these stamps about 2 years ago I bought 2 sets one suitable birthdays etc and this Christmas set and each Christmas I design a different type of card with these stamps.....last year for a change and thinking he was getting older I made him one without Scooby on and he asked me where Scooby was....he said I do like my card Nanna but I love Scooby ones better..... Ah bless him.....so I've not made that mistake this year!!

This years card is a pop up inside with Scooby and presents.

Image was coloured with promarkers and cut out with a spellbinder die as was the Merry Christmas, paper is Stampin' Up! I have inked edges with lightly with vintage photo distress inks.

Inside

Scooby with presents was cut out and added to the tab to pop up when card is opened all coloured with promarkers.

I will be linking this card at
Craft your Days Away - #35 Snowman

Craft-room Challenge - Die cuts and punches

We now have our decorations up and it is looking a lot like Christmas here..... still some jobs to do but list is getting smaller... yeah. 8 for lunch tomorrow that's all the family DD and DS and respective partners and no.1 Grandson and puppy... well he won't be sitting to table lol.... table is just big enough bit of a squeeze so hope family doesn't increase!!
Just returned from food shopping and everywhere is icy and it is freezing, hills are covered in snow and sun is shining so everything looks very pretty.... glad to be home again and in the warm hot chocolate at my side..........mmmmmmmmm!!! :-)
'Till the next time hot choc calling.............

Lots and Lots of Sparkle

2011-12-16T17:54:00.002Z

Today I would like to share with you a couple of Christmas cards I made with a non Christmas stamp which I am ashamed to say has had a very sheltered stamping life...not because I don't like it...... I love it.....but I always think background stamp....so thinking how to use this for Christmas I decided to use glitter this time instead of embossing powder.
Stamp is a Medallion background large wood mounted stamp from Stampin' Up!

I stamped with versamark and stamping off the panel for a part image I then added SU sticky stuff to image and heated which then goes sticky then added the glitter also SU. I added a brad SU to the middle and mounted panel onto card which has top fold, Merry Christmas was embossed in gold on gold card and silver on blue one this stamp is an old old one no idea who by. I was pleased with the finished result and think they make very sparkly Christmas cards.

I will be linking these cards with:

Just add Ink Challenge - Just add Sparkle

Winter Wonderland - Be Different - used non Christmas Stamp

Managed to get some more Christmas jobs done today hope all your preparations are going well...only 8 days to go......!

Bye for now

Jolly and Bright..........

2011-12-15T08:31:00.001Z

..............Christmas at the Farm!!

Colour Challenge GC128 Yellow Red Brown

Another quick post and another quick Christmas card make using the colours Yellow Red and Brown which is the current Colour Challenge over at Gingersnap Creations not sure if this card will fit the challenge ladies sorry if not but as I had used the colour combo and I hadn't been over to see you for a while I though I would enter........its Christmas at the Farm!!! lol. :-)

I used Alterations embossing folder Merry Christmas and DI inks vintage photo fired brick and mustard seed Inks were added to card first which then I spritzed lightly and dried before embossing then I lightly ran over the Merry Christmas with the same inks to highlight the letters even more

I added a brown ribbon and button threaded with bakers twine, a very quick card to make which is just as well considering I'm was needing to get them in the post.....

I will try and be back with more Christmas makes in between putting up decorations.... baking.... family visiting this weekend...... icing Christmas cake...only made it yesterday!!!!!........we never eat it until New Year ..... shopping..... Oh and tomorrow we are forecast lots of snow.......

bye for now

Blue Snowflakes.................

2011-12-14T21:05:00.000Z

Let it Snow is the challenge over at Less is More a One Layer Card

As I had a few last minute Christmas cards to make I returned to a technique which is quick and easy and I think effective also perfect for a OLC. Firstly I stamped the background using an acrylic block, I inked the block with Distress Ink tumbled glass and spritzed with water then stamp onto the card, depending how much water you spray depends on the effect you get, also any dye based ink works I've found. My first card is the one I'm entering into the challenge and has been spritzed quite heavily making a very subtle water effect background, the second picture shows different effects with less spritzing.

Snowflakes SU set Snow Burst and SU inks Night of Navy, Pacific Point and Marina Mist were stamped randomly over the area stamping off the block of background, using the stamp-a-ma-jig I over stamped in clear embossing ink onto some of the snowflakes and greeting and added Stampin' Up! sticky stuff - I love this for glitter as the glitter really doesn't seem to shed - then glittered with ......... The sentiment is an old stamp I have had for years and no idea to its origin. Try as I might I could not get the glitter to show as the effect is very subtle but sparkles well in the light.

These cards show the effects with less spritzing

Hope all your Christmas preparations are going well

bye for now

Winter Shabby.............

2011-12-12T19:29:00.003Z

...........the final one!

Today is the last tag #12 I was very sad this morning and also very excited to see what the last tag would be I wasn't disappointed shabby vintage just up my street and instantly I found I had a new favourite lol .......Tim threw everything at this one and I had to improvise a lot as he used products I don't have, including tissue wrap see 12 tags of Christmas for all the details.

I stamped onto the tag and then used tissue from a serviette to stamp music onto and then applied to tag in the same way apart from the word "wish" everything else on my tag is improvisation.

I cut the deer from metal and then painted with white and sanded back to show the silver, flower was cut with music paper which I had covered with picket fence DI stain and I crumpled the petals while it was still damp. I added stickles to the letters...just because I could..... which left the top left a bit bare so I added a silver star from my stash.... finished tag #12. I really enjoyed this one and it runs a close second to my favourite which was #2; I have completed them all now except #8 which I will get too soon.

It has been an amazing journey again this year and once again I have learnt such a lot, some techniques I will use again and again I'm sure.

Thanks for all the comments they are always appreciated.

Simply Retro ..........

2011-12-12T10:22:00.001Z

Day 11......12 tags of Christmas

Here is my tag for Day 11 I loved the simply retro look of this tag it reminds me of my childhood in the '50's..... yes now you know how old I am ish!!! rofl :-()
The main event for this stamp was a cool technique with the melt pot and shrink plastic...have melt pot but shrink plastic....well it is here somewhere but I couldn't find it anywhere so I improvised..... will go back to that technique when shrink plastic comes out of hiding....or when I buy some more!
I have kept it simple as Tim's was not owning those stamps and they aren't my style really anyway but perfect for this look, I used Tim's stickers and mounted onto card and cut out, inked edges with vintage photo and mounted onto foam pads. Background as Tim's only I got a snow blizzard rather than a light snow falling.....

Top corner my improvised embellishment is foliage cut from die and covered in glossy accents to give the shine and ranger dimensional pearls in cranberry for berries.....this is why I couldn't post yesterday as my glossy accents were not dry .

It is a sad but exciting day today as the last tag is super fabulous and just up my street but it is the last day for 12 tags of Christmas....... :-( so I'm off to play and do Christmas things in between drying times!

Will be back later with today's no.12 tag

bye for now

12 tags Christmas

2011-12-11T18:01:00.001Z

Day 9 and Day 10

I have managed to catch up again today with my tags I did Tag 9 this morning and Tag 10 and 11 this afternoon, I have had a lovely crafty day to unwind from the hectic week and friends visiting yesterday from Ireland.

Day 9

I love this technique and use it quite often so when day 9 was posted on Saturday I was sorry I couldn't play straight away but with visitors looming within the hour I just had to resist......sorry for the pun lol............
I used peeled paint for the swirls and fired brick for the background and lastly vintage photo candle and the word peace as per Tim's instructions...... I think I have a new favourite glossy accents I can't stop using it.......will need another bottle soon!

Day 10
I didn't have any stamps large enough to cover the tag and I wanted to use music as a background so I cut my tag from Tim Holtz Kraft Resist Pad I adore this so much I can't bring myself to use it very often.......I know sad I am.......... and coloured the holly with pine needles and went over the tag with vintage photo to bring out the resist, then sprayed with perfect pearls gold, no facets either so I used fragments with TH stickers behind, banner was hand cut from tissue tape stuck to card first, I added picket fence distress stain all over the tape and left to dry then added vintage photo to edges, word was painted in copper dapper paint, finally I added bells lace and tinsel..... so glad I bought the big pack of bells knew they would come in useful and they were a bargain at 0.99p ....I love a bargain.

Really enjoyed making these tags today revisiting techniques I haven't used for a while and as I said at the beginning I have also made tag 11 today's which is still drying and will have to wait to take a photo 'till tomorrow in daylight. It was dark by the time I needed to photograph these two and the light just doesn't do the colours justice.

Hope you have had a good crafty time today with your tags .......or is it Christmas preparations.....I should have been making Christmas cards.......still have family ones to make.......oh well there is always tomorrow!!!

Bye for now

Special Visitor

2011-12-08T16:54:00.003Z

Look who came to visit me today.................NO not Santa...................but a wildlife friend

Photo not so good as I had to take through window and stay away so he didn't see me! He was looking for dinner as we have pheasants come here everyday he could smell them and was following their path.............not surprisingly I haven't seen any pheasants today ...........they are too clever for Mr Fox or it could have been Mrs...lol!!

I feel so privileged to see the large array of wildlife I get in my garden or just in the field adjacent copious amounts of birds come to the feeders and I have also been soooooo close to a Barn Owl as he flew past me one night ......it was amazing!

No crafting today just shopping cleaning mine and Mom's........exhausted now!!
DH just come in cold and wet so off to cook dinner. Wind howling and rain lashing so will light fire and sit by roaring log fire with feet up watching telly....might write some Christmas cards....might!

Bye for now

Day 7 - 12 Days of Christmas

2011-12-07T22:04:00.002Z

Vintage Tag
I was on Tim's blog early this morning in fact 3 mins after he had blogged today's tag eager to see Day 7 and I wasn't disappointed a fabulous vintage tag .... well I was up early as we had a Christmas shopping trip planned and the wind and rain was lashing on the window which woke me earlier than planned - we had a successful morning and we also managed to met up with DD in her lunch hour which was a bonus had lunch and then we returned home. So this evening was my opportunity to get crafty yeah! I don't have the holly die or the twig die so I left the twigs out and hand cut the holly from the kraft glassine paper ...which I inked with alcohol inks and gold mixative as Tim's video great effect only thing was my greens were a little too light I could have done with a darker one but I loved the effects just the same.

I have the kraft glassine for some time and not really played with it and the video shows some rally good techniques so will be trying those out too later well after Christmas I expect. Background for the tag was made with DI frayed burlap and vintage photo as I don't have these stains stamp used was the music one off the mini holidays collection as was the greeting, lace was from creative expressions.
I have already said that I follow Tim's tags unashamedly I like to do this as I keep them for future reference when my mojo takes a holiday which happens quite often of late. I managed to make all 12 last year and have referred to these lots of times when I need a spark to light my mojo.....lol.

Hope you are all enjoying this journey I know I am... for me it is a lovely piece of crafting time in the mad run up to Christmas... see you all tomorrow maybe!

Bye for now

Christmas Card .......

2011-12-06T20:52:00.000Z

Alternative card to Tag 6 12 days of Christmas

2 posts in one day ... I have a very good Christmas crafting day today firstly I made Tag 6 which I posted earlier here and then using the same technique and a different folder I made DH a Christmas card!

I enjoyed making Tag 6 so much that I just had to do it again and using a different folder....the only other Christmas one I have... I embossed my square of foil which I attached to card before painting when finished I embossed the edges in black and this really made the design pop, I can't tell you how it just does look like a piece of old painted metal I wish you could see it in rl such a fabulous technique... I Love It!!!
My Santa metal embellishment was painted with red and covered in clear embossing ink as before. Ribbon was swiped with walnut stain DI spritzed with water and then scrumpled the ribbon into it and dried with heat gun

Hope DH likes it I really struggle with a Christmas card for him and usually I am making it right at the last minute...

Materials used
Foil, Ranger dabbers, Embossing Folder Alterations, Black embossing powder, Distress Ink walnut stain, red card stock and kraft card blank, Santa embellishment my stash!

I'm linking this card to

Here Come The Boys - Challenge #16 For the Man/Men in your life

Bye for now

12 Tags of Christmas .............Day 6

2011-12-06T14:39:00.003Z

Well here I am again with day 6 of 12 tags of Christmas half way on this fabulous journey and I have managed to do this tag on day 6! I have had a fabulous crafty morning and really enjoyed myself.
I have to omit that during the process I thought .....this look very bad..... and I had started to doubt Tim ...I know me doubt the master himself.....sorry but I did as all I could see at that time was a painted mess.......anyway I proceeded with the Tim's tutorial and am very pleased with the result. I will definitely be doing this again think it would be great for the men in my life...DH and DS in case you were wondering...lol.

I wish you could see the enamelled look that this creates, photo does not do it justice at all, all those doing tag will know it really does look and feel like an old painted enameled sheet of metal...... fabulous technique.
I have used whatever I had in my stash I only had small sheets of metal so I embossed twice and put the design together on the tag. For the paint I used dabbers in several colours. I used a idea-ology pin to attach the painted metal wreath as I don't have a drill!! I will definitely be doing this technique again.
This tag will be a Christmas tag for DH and I maybe back later with a Christmas card for him using a different embossing folder.......still work in progress.

bye for now

DAY 5 - 12 TAGS OF CHRISTMAS

2011-12-05T20:17:00.005Z

I completed tag 5 on day 5 and what a great tag Tim produced today love this technique, now I didn't have the backwards stamps that Tim used so I went with a flourish swirl as there is no right or wrong direction, Alcohol Inks used were red pepper, currant and raisin. I made the wreath from the pine cone die leaves (yeah it came today)!! a lot different to the original tag but this is the way I tie my greenery on my doors if I don't want a wreath... well I did when I had the conifer tree in my garden alas we have not got one at this house..... so I go begging from friends.......... it works for me!! Or better still collecting during a lovely walk.

I have also stamped Season Greetings at the bottom of the tag in Archival Ink then I went overboard with the pearls and tied lace at the top of the tag. I am really pleased with today's tag and it didn't take long to make.

I may be back with tomorrows............. we will see!

12 tags.............Day 4

2011-12-05T14:07:00.002Z

Here is my tag for Day 4 -12 tags of Christmas I have improvised a lot on this one, no stains so I used distress ink for the background in stormy sky, stamped snowflakes in weathered wood, no snowman die so used another die but I did have the 25 shapers die yeah! so followed the instructions here and for the crackle both of these techniques took forever to dry but the crackle behaved and I ended up with small crackles instead of the mess I usually end up with so very pleased there, recycled a piece of packaging using on the edge die but not snowflakes!! bits and pieces added from stash by the time it was dry the light had gone so waited to photo today.

Tag 5 looks fabulous not sure how I will improvise that one will have to go and have another long look as only peeked this morning before I left early ....

'till next time

Christmas Decoration..........

2011-12-05T06:15:00.001Z

Inspired by 12 tags -Day 1

While I was making my tag here for Day One of the 12 tags from Tim Holtz I also made this Christmas decoration using some of the techniques for the tag, as I don't have the pine cone die yet I improvised with a spellbinders die.... the one that cuts in a swirl and makes a flower.... I cut this in glassine paper and made as the pinecone instructions on Day 1 of 12 tags and the other I cut from the tattered flower die using the 6 petal one and made a flower or open pine cone.... go with which ever it looks like to you......or maybe it doesn't look like either lol!!!

Foliage was cut using festive greenery alterations die Main shape was alterations die ornamental....... and cut in grungeboard background is cut from TH core'dinations paper stack which I rubbed over some white paint and then removed while wet in places and stamped snowflakes(TH) and embossed in white. Hope was cut with alterations die and glittered in silver lastly I added stickles to the outside edges.
I am linking this at The Stampman Challenge - Create an Ornament

bye for now

12 Tags Day 2 and 3

2011-12-04T17:15:00.004Z

I have finally completed my tags for days 2 and 3 for Tim's 12 tags of Christmas again I have improvised with a lot of things to make them using what I had and adapted them where needed. You will see that I have again followed Tim's tags unashamedly.... I like to do this as a reference for later when I can take inspiration from them when my mojo has gone away.....I do intend to make my own Christmas tags or decorations taking the inspiration from each day not sure how much will actually get done though........but the intentions are there lol.

Day 2

I used the same background paper using white paint over it as I don't have the white DI stain, Deer was cut from canvas I had bought on a roll ages and ages ago, which I glued to card and frayed a little, the green around the deer's neck was found in my stash it is like a tinselled pipe cleaner and think I bought them to craft with my grandson last year......it's great to rummage through your stash and find things don't you think...! Hessian was the same bought ages ago knowing I would need it some day.... I added bell from my stash and TH trinket.

Day 3

Lots of compromising here on this tag, I used embossing folder and embossed in different directions and then inked over with Distress inks to get similar effect Tim used on his tag. I don't have anything to make a custom stamp will have to look into it though as it looks great fun, I cut the foliage and added buttons, sparkly ribbon (not showing up in photo) from stash and bell is tied on with strand from the Hessian on tag 2 and curled again not showing up well the light was going and electric light is not good for photos.

I have nearly caught up only 1 tag behind now hopefully will get this done soon
Bye for now and enjoy the 12 tags if you are joining in.

Black and White ATC

2011-12-04T15:20:00.000Z

I have been having a Christmas crafting morning and had a break to make this ATC for Wicked Wednesday ATC challenge #8 Black and white. As I was in Christmas mode I have made a Christmas ATC using non christmas stamps and a little bit of bling.
Sorry photo is a little blurred......it does look crisp and black and white irl!!!

Trees were stamped in black and be merry sentiment down the side, I tore white card and layered along the bottom adding stickles to the edges for snow, edges were inked in black soot distress ink .

products used

Stamps Stampin' Up! and black basic ink

Distress Inks Ranger

bye for now

12 Tags ............Tag 1

2011-12-04T08:48:00.001Z

.....and a Disaster if you say that in Craig's voice - you know from Strictly you will get what I mean as I go on... if that makes sense.........maybe not.... anyway back to the The 12 Tags from Tim - how excited was I to see the 12 tags start again this year as always time is not on my side again but was determined to play even though I will be playing catch up all the time. Friday morning I was up early and had an hour to play.... now I do not have the pine cone die yet so I had to improvise....you will see this word crop up a lot!! I found my Spellbinders die the one that makes a flower and cuts in a spiral.... thinking this might work so I cut out with TH co-ordinations paper and set to rolling as his video using a hot glue gun......finger slipped straight into hot glue and Disaster struck(remember in Craig's voice).......see me running to bathroom to plunge into cold water to cool glue and getting cream to rub on.........after a lot of jiggy jiggy up and down the hall............because it hurt a lot........ eventually the pain eased but now finger and thumb so sore on right hand I can't craft!..... I wonder does Tim realise the pain we go through to complete his 12 tags..... just thinking!!!! So much later in the day I finish rolling the before mentioned pine cones with my poorly now blistered fingers.... and on the whole they turned out ok ish not like the Masters but I ran with them.

On Saturday my parcel came from Jennie at The Artistic Stamper..... which contained the Noel and Festive Greenery... and a FREE stamp with every order Tim's 12 days of Christmas.........we like Free stamps.. a lot....thanks Jennie and for speedy delivery as always.
So after I returned from a successful Christmas shopping trip out came all my goodies and off I went on the journey of Tag 1 which as you can see I followed unashamedly!
I used a different embossing folder for the tag which was cut using colour tumbled glass sheet from Tims core'dinations paper stack and I made the banner which I hand cut from Kraft Resist paper stack charm from my stash.

I had moved onto the dinning room table for this crafting session as I had things drying in my room of craft .............and this is the after photo.........................

Oh my goodnes I'm sure it wasn't that bad last night but this is what I woke to this morning (sunday) and now have to clear it before Lunchtime!!!!!!!!! Or maybe craft some more and finish more tags..... liking the second idea more!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm linking this tag at
The Artistic Stamper Creative Blog would be rude not to as Jennie raced my order to me lol; challenge is Christmas
Studio L3 - Grungy Monday where we can link our 12 tags
Tim Holtz Blog where you can also link the 12 days tags OMGoodness I have just seen tag 4!
bye for now

Wild and Windy Tuesday

2011-11-29T14:24:00.001Z

Another ATC and Wicked Wednesday Challenge

Hi everyone OMGoodnes it is sooooo windy here and the rain has just started, I have spent all morning moving things in the garden to make them secure, the wind has broken my whirly line snapped it off in the ground so that will have to wait for DH to get back as it is stuck fast. After the morning events I decided to retire to my craft room and do some Christmas crafting but my Christmas mojo seems to have gone awol!!!! So I have made an ATC instead for the Wicked Wednesday which this week is Books/Reading Challenge.

I love reading and have so many favourites so really struggled to choose just one thing, and then I remembered a super quote I had found which summed up exactly what books mean to me..... so this is what I based my ATC on.

Quote was printed onto card and inked with DI tea dye torn edges were also inked in same ink, a page was torn from an old dictionary, this was inked in tea dye and spun sugar and stamped with a flower image and embossed in white, I also stamped same flower head at the top of my ATC onto the background which was a piece of Tim Holtz papers, edges were also inked with tea dye.

Storm is raging outside again so will quickly post this as I feel we may have power cuts!!!!!!

Bye for now

Decoration............in Wonderland

2011-11-24T08:49:00.001Z

Crafty Individuals Challenge.........Winter Wonderland
Hello everyone long time no blog,,,,,,,,,,,,I haven't had much crafting time lately Mom has not been too good so I have been spending lot of time with her and sleeping in the evenings...............anyway I had another light bulb moment at the weekend and wanted to make some Christmas decorations for Me!!!
I like to decorate my doors with hangings and so with this in mind I set about routing through my Spellbinders Dies and started cutting. I have been fiddling I mean designing lol for a few evenings until I finally settled on this one. I will be making about 6 and they will all be slightly different the Stamped image will stay the same with a few variations I'm thinking.

For the stamped image I have used CI 056 from Crafty Individuals which I then realized meant I could enter their challenge for November I really thought I would have to miss this one. Hope it fits the challenge ok.
This was inked in grey memento ink onto white card and then inked over with antique linen distress inks, I also inked the other die cuts with same colour.
snowflake was cut out using Tim Holtz papers and the flower behind the organza rose was from his tattered flowers die inked with stormy ski. I added a touch of glitter to the Angels wings ( I really like this image) and to the edges added rose and hat pins and ribbon (creative expressions). I'm very pleased and hope to finish all the others soon...... will blog them all when I have done so.

Thank you to everyone who takes the time to visit me and leave lovely comments they are all very much appreciated

'till next time
bye for now

ATC and Alcohol Inks..............

2011-11-20T13:56:00.002Z

Wicked Wednesday ATC challenge this week is Flowerful. The design team have used a digi image from Dilly Beans Digi Stamps, who are providing the prize. Great inspiration.
As I had been playing with Alcohol inks in my last post and it was a little addictive... I decided while they were out I would make an ATC! !
I covered a piece of Acetate with cranberry and pitch black and blending solution and with archival ink I stamped a flourish 3 times and wiped the ink away.....I love this and it never ceases to amaze me how the design pops.... then I stamped my flowers and embossed with black, also a little butterfly crept in as well......... where there are flowers there are butterflies......yes!!!!

I mounted this onto silver mirri card and secured with silver brads, the whole ATC has a very metallic look to it and the embossing gives texture, The hardest part was taking a photo!!! I think this is the best one for light here below are couple more I took

Looking more metallic in this one but a bit blurred!

This one shows up the background a bit better ................maybe

Thanks for the challenge

Stamps used : Flowers Sheena Douglas A Little Bit Sketchy her new range ,

flourish Creative expressions (I think)

Ranger Alcohol Inks, Versafine Black ink and Cosmic Shimmer Black Embossing powder

Heat resistant Acetate, Silver Mirri Card

bye for now

Going Grey.........................

2011-11-18T16:11:00.000Z

Gingersnap Creations GC124

Firstly I want to say thanks for choosing me as a Gingergem for challenge GC124 Ravens........thanks ladies ......wearing my badge with pride. :-))

Right onto this challenge GC124 black and grey... well I nearly didn't play with this one as everything I tried I hated these colours really challenged me until to today when my little grey (no pun intended) cells kicked in and I had a light bulb moment you know the ones I mean.....lol. A technique had popped into my head with Alcohol Ink, Acetate and resist......... here is my finished card. I have used grey and black honest but for some reason the colour looks a little blue, the light here is awful another dull day so maybe that is why!

I started with a piece of acetate and used pitch black and slate alcohol inks and blending solution and applyed going over until I got the result I liked. Flourish was then stamped on top with black archival ink leave a few moments and then rub away......this never ceases to amaze me how the designs pops here is a close up of the background

Bird was stamped and embossed in Silver Metalic embossing powder on the opposite side to the inks and then this was mounted onto grey mirri board with brads. mounting on mirri board gives a metalic look to the background which is what I wanted,.....really it does in real life.
Black and grey card were used to mat and to cover the card blank, edges inked with black soot DI, Sentiment was stamped in black archival and cut with spellbinder shape and inked while in the die again with black soot.

I'm pleased with the finished card but wish I had thought of this technique earlier and avoided going grey...... now you see where my title is comming from...... lol :-) Thanks for the challenge it really did challenge me!

I have enjoyed playing with this technique be warned I may be back with more................

Products used
Stamps Tim Holtz Take Flight and Sentiment stamp from a Visual Artistry plate
Alcohol Inks Pitch Black and Slate and Blending soloution
Inks DI and Archival Black and Embossing ink
Embossing Powder: Cosmic Shimmer Silver Metallic
Card Stampin Up
Acetate sheet
Brads SU

'till next time

Reindeer in the Sky...........

2011-11-16T20:11:00.000Z

Grungy Monday 27

This week Linda over at Studio L3 transported us back to 2007 with a link to Tim's 12 days of Christmas Tag. This was another great one to do and it means I'm adding to my Christmas Tags too, thanks Linda!!
I cut my tag from craft card with TH Tag and Bookplate die, Inks used for background was faded jeans and gold perfect pearls.

masks were cut from masking sheet using reindeer flight die and inked with frayed burlap this has made the background a bit grungier (is that a word...!!_ oh well it is now lol; I also used the negative to mask and stamped in blacksoot with music stamp from Mini Holidays sheet, Stars are grungeboard sprayed and edges inked with black soot the bookplate was swiped through the ink that was on my craft sheet so was a spare piece and I punched out a scallop oval with Seasons Greetings stamped first from same stamp sheet mounted onto foam pads. It isn't this blue in real life............. not sure why it is in photo think it must be the electric light. The shimmer on the background is gorgeous in real life couldn't capture it in the photo!

Ravens

2011-11-15T09:19:00.000Z

Woohooo!! I just had share with you that I have been picked as a GingerGem over at Gingersnap Creations GC123 Ravens. There was some amazing art for this challenge and I am so honoured it has made my week..... wearing my badge with pride!! Pop over and take a look at the art over there and great challenges too.

Here is the link for my entry if you want a peek

Bye for now

Romance tag

2011-11-14T16:36:00.001Z

Another Tag - Dragons Dream Tag It On Challenge 104 Letters to Juliet - Romance.
I have been making Christmas tags and things so this was a nice change, I don't always get chance to play here at TIO but as I was in the process of making tags it seemed I could just make one more.........lol
I will also join in at Simon Says Stamp and Show Some Women Only Challenge (hope this counts)!!

The background was made using Distress Inks over a stamped image which I stamped in versamark if you look closely in the photo below you may see it is quite subtle and the fact that I stamped over it and kept adding to the tag there's not a lot of space left to see it......lol.

Using Stampin' Up! set Artistic Etchings I stamped in frayed burlip distress inks, then next layer in black soot, postage stamp was stamped on separate piece inked with tattered rose and cut out, pen nib was also cut out this stamp and sentiment are Tim Holtz. Lastly I added lace from my stash to the bottom edge, string from the tag and lace and fibres at the top, flower which is three layered together and the tiny one already had a bead in the centre, these were inked also but sorry they don't show up in photo as it was so subtle!!

Hope you like my interpretation of the challenge

Bye for now

Angel ATC

2011-11-14T09:15:00.000Z

Wicked Wednesday ATC challenge blog

This week the challenge is Angels I love ATC's and have neglected this little gems for some time and when I came across this blog I knew I would have to try and play over there and last night I made this ATC.

I had to search through my stamps to find these Angel stamps, they are separate stamps, I haven't used them for a while and when I saw the challenge theme they popped into my head immediately so I had to run with it. I love the Peeping Angel- this would be me ...... if I was an Angel.... which I'm not rofl!!!
I stamped the Angels in Archival black Ink masking the middle image to get them close together. Background was made with Distress Inks as they were already out on my desk I used barn door and peeled paint for the swirls which was a Tim Holtz flourish stamp. Not sure about the Angel Stamps I think they are Judikins but I have had them years. Their clothes were painted with peeled paint to get the watercolour soft effect I wanted, hair was coloured same way with aged mahogany and glitter added to their wings and halos.
Thanks for the challenge I really enjoyed getting back into ATC crafting looking forward to seeing what the challenge is on Wednesday.....hopefully I will be able to play a little earlier!!!

Bye for now

Christmas Tags.....

2011-11-13T18:18:00.000Z

Grungy Monday 26
and
Sunday Stampers week 180
2 posts in one today, I had some time to myself so off I went to the little room of craft and got inky and had a fabulous time...... talking of time I have only just made GM with hours to spare I missed last weeks and was determined to play this week so while I was inky I got another tag made for Sunday Stamper challenge.

Firstly GM 26 Linda asked us to follow Tim's 12 tags of Christmas Tags 2009, day 7 how could I refuse.... now I did make a few adjustments but really I followed Tim's except for the paint dabber in a different colour as I have run out of white. Great technique and I really love the way the background just pops. Thanks again Linda for a fab week....... hope Tim is doing his 12 tags again this year as I actually did all 12 last year Yayhee !!!

I made my mask with a post it note and used paint dabber lake mist instead of the white everything else is more or less the same as in the video oh yes nearly forgot I used a holly sprig stamp instead of the snowflakes....can't really see them in the photo but they are there.

sorry close up seems a little blurry.

Sunday Stamper challenge set by Hels has the title "Trail of the Lonesome Pine" to use Pine Colours/Pine Trees/Branches, so while humming this tune as by now it has stuck in my little grey cells trouble is I only know a few bars...........less said the better so onto tag,

I used TH embossing folder with Pine trees and inked over in peeled paint and pine needles DI and walnut stain around the edges, pine sprig was stamped in pine needles and vintage photo, I went around the edges of trees and branches with white pen as it had been snowing, by the look of the splashes I made I think a blizzard would be more apt....think I was a bit to heavy handed with the water!! Tim's tape was added to the bottom edge and top corner, also a bell as before with some bakers twine in green.
Long post I know hope you made it to the end with me..........thanks for looking

bye till next time

LEAVES............Less is more

2011-11-12T17:47:00.000Z

Less is More challenge Week 41 is Leaves and I knew I just had to make time today to play, firstly I love leaves at this time of year and I just had to get inky......

I tore a mask and got out my Distress Inks and my favourite nature stamp sets and here is my card

Leaf stamp was inked with a mixture of DI's using the lightest first so not to contaminate the colours, I just love this sentiment stamp which I think just sums up nature for me. :-)

Stamp sets are Stampin' Up Lovely as a Tree and Touch of Nature
Distress Inks Tea Dye, Spiced Marmalade, Barn Door, Vintage Photo

Thanks Limettes for all of you that popped over to my blog last week and left such lovely comments I really do appreciate them all.
Must dash now to get a meal before Strictly and Merlin ...Saturday night must watch TV in this house!!

See you next week ...... this is getting addictive lol ;-))

Gingersnap Creations GC123

2011-11-10T08:35:00.000Z

Random Redheads Challenge Ravens...........

This subject really was a challenge...........we have 2 that come to the large tree on the edge of the garden daily and I love to watch their antics magnificent birds ....... anyway I had just recently purchased this stamp from Artistic Stamper and have had this project on the go for a while, I had stamped out several images with different effects and just could'nt put a card together..........I hate it when this happens lol!!!!

Well with all that has been going on lately I only went back to it last night and everything just seemed to click and this is the result...

I stamped onto a background of DI tumbled glass, which was made by putting ink onto craft mat and spritzed with water and swished card through it, then when dry I stamped with versamark and embossed in black, tore the edges and mounted onto black card, Tim Holtz Ranger Distress collection card in weathered storm was embossed using a mask of cog wheels and sanded........ I am loving this Distress card and all the colours match the DI's - fabulous...... now you may be wandering why I didn't use the same colour as the background....... simple the same colour looked wrong and weathered wood looked right.....see simple lol :-)) The edges were distressed with scissors as I can not find my distressing tool I have hunted everywhere I am very distressed I expect it is buried somewhere in my very very untidy craft room - note to self tidy up!!...........sorry back to card... I inked these edges with black soot and mounted onto card. Dream ticket was stamped in black soot and with Ideaology pin stuck into bakers twine which was tied in a knot.

Hope you like my interpretation of "The Raven" poem by E.A. Poe I had not read this poem until I googled so this was something else I learned this is the reason I love challenges not only do they challenge me out of my comfort zone but I am always learning something. Pop over to Gingersnap Creations and see some amazing art. Thanks ladies for some amazing challenges and DT work.

I am also playing at Artistic Stamper Creative Team blog where this month challenge is backgrounds.

Items used

Stamp Raven - Artistic Stamper

Ticket Stamp, Mask, Black embossing powder - Creative Expressions

Inks DI Tumbled Glass, Black Soot , Distress Card - Tim Holtz/Ranger

Less is more.....................

2011-11-09T21:53:00.001Z

Hellooooooo.... I have not blogged for a while as life has been hectic here with Mum going into hospital on 2nd November for a pacemaker to be fitted 2 days before her 90th Birthday!!!! She was out the same day very tired and very sore and came to stay here, then on Friday 4th it was her 90th and her brother and wife travelled over to spend time with her staying overnight, then Saturday my Daughter and Son and partners including Grandson and new puppy all arrived.........phew! Mom enjoyed all the fuss and attention and the puppy!! Sunday was a day of rest for us all, visitors had gone and we caught up with Strictly and Merlin.... and slept. Mum is now back home and today I managed to get into my little room of craft and play.

Here is my card which I made for Less is More challenge Red and Orange

I have used Stampin' Up! stamp set Baroque Motifs, Inks SU Tangerine Tango and Cherry Cobler, 2 of the flowers were inked up with tangerine tango and the lightly rocked onto the cherry cobler to give a more textured flower the 3rd was stamped in tangerine tango only. Words were stamped in Basic Black with Whimsical Words Set.

Here are a couple of photos from the weekend Mum opening cards

This is the only picture I could get of Puppy as he didn't sit still long enough and all the others are blurred he is only 12 weeks old and soooooo cute

bye for now

GM Perfect Distress...............

2011-10-28T09:12:00.000+01:00

GM24 - Perfect Distress - This week Linda at Studio L3 has asked us to follow this technique from Tim Holtz here.

After many failed efforts I finally managed a tag I am quite pleased with..... I found this a lot harder than Tim makes it look but then he is the King of all things distressed!!! There must be a knack to this if anyone has suggestions I will be pleased to here them. Mostly I found the pearls and inks bled too much no matter how much or little water I added...............anyway enough waffle here is my Tag. I am also playing at The Artistic Stamper Creative Team blog October challenge- Autumn Colours.

This picture shows up the perfect pearls which is hard to photo. I used DI's barn door, dried marigold for the background, numbers were stamped in walnut stain and technique added, I used Heirloom Gold Perfect Pearls, words from the quote were stamped again onto white card and stamped in black soot again adding the technique... top word says Start photo not showing them very well, if you look at the top hiding under the ribbon you will see a butterfly stamped in dried marigold and then adding the technique.

This picture is taken in daylight and from a different angle which shows only the inks and perfect pearls are more subtle...... well you can hardly see them lol ;-))

Stamps used TH Fairytale Frenzy and tag cut using Alterations Tag Die.

Circles and Santa.............

2011-10-20T19:46:00.003+01:00

Today I managed to complete my piece for a couple of challenges firstly the Stampman Challenge which is Circles, I am running late as closing time is very near so this will have to be a quick post or I will have to type very fast.....lol; and secondly I'm playing over at Try it on Tuesday Take to the Skies with a tongue in check entry.......Santa has taken to the sky!

Firstly I dug out an old bingo board that I bought from a charity shop ages ago and cut the card to fit, then with several colours of DI's swiped onto my craft sheet I made the background, ran this through an embossing folder circles then ran over this with DI and stamped and embossed snowflakes on top (they are there honest) Santa was stamped in black archival this stamp is from a Christmas plate from Creative Expressions.

Then I stamped a forest at the bottom and added snow to the trees with white pen.

Hanging sign Alterations die was cut and run through the same embossing folder and inked edges, words from Tim Holtz stampers anonymous Thoughts were stamped onto white card and inked and cut out.

Letters were Idea-ology Alpha Parts, the 25 was coloured with Alcohol Inks cranberry and oregano, baker twine was used in the holes and mounted to the clip at top of board which I also covered in alcohol inks as before. I also added glossy accents to the edges of numbers and sprinkled very fine glitter to them.

I left the board as it was as I liked the rich colour around the edges.

I am also entering this into the Gingersnap Creations challenge Alcohol Inks ............I know its only a small area hopefully this will be ok.

Products used
Distress inks pine needles, forest moss, dustry concorde, faded jeans; Archival Ink black;
Tim Holz idea-ology alpha parts; numbers;
Stamps;Tim Holtz stamper anonymous Plates; Thoughts; Holidays
Alterations die; Sizzix embossing folder circles; bakers twine; old recycled bingo board
Bye for now

Christmas in 10 mins............................

2011-10-18T13:48:00.000+01:00

Grungy Monday 23 - Tim in 10

This weeks GM challenge over at Studio L3 is to make a card within 10 mins......lol me make a card in 10 mins.....well this really was a challenge. Now Linda was kind and said we could gather our bits and bobs together and think about the card and set the timer for 10 mins for the actual making of the project..........Well it would have to be simple and not too much stash used so firstly I sketched a simple design,

and with that in mind I went to my Tim Holtz stash - what else would one use!! lol; I decided to use an embossing folder for a quick impact this would be my main image and pulled out a background from my stash that I had already made and smooched with DI inks as to make one would be too wet for the embossing folder.
With everything gathered I set the timer and off I went...........quickly embossed and inked the image then distressed edges with scissors and inked........... next on went the ribbon........... next I stamped the ticket and inked and attached the 25 sticker............... then I mounted main piece onto card blank and attached with staples ..... thinking double sided could take 10 mins on its own lol.........next attached ticket with foam pads.... time is galloping now.......next button is glued with glossy accents and a length of Bakers Twine was folded together and tied in a knot and cut ends and glued onto button ........timer went off.................phew made it!

I am pleased with the end result and like the staples as they add to the distressed look
below is picture of my work area as I finished and card is still drying...... forgot to take a before one....doh

As you can see I am only working in a small space as desk is covered with stuff waiting to be put away!!!!!!!

Thanks Linda really had fun with this one I may attempt another......we'll see lol

Products used:

Tim Holtz; Alterations Folder Merry Christmas; DI black soot, tea dye; vintage photo for main image; background was made I think (didn't write on back) using dried marigold and peeled paint; glossy accents and salvage stickers.

from stash - ribbon SU, Staples, main card SU chocolate chip; button; bakers twine; archival ink black

Ticket Stamp -Creative Expressions

From the Heart...........

2011-10-14T12:53:00.001+01:00

Today's card I have made for Less is More challenge - One Layer Card (OLC) and Hearts.

I used a stencil/mask that I made myself from a die cut and inked through with distress ink (spun sugar) for the base heart, then using SU stamp set I (heart) hearts and SU inks melon mambo and rich razzleberry I stamped the hearts around the main one. These OLC cards are quite a challenge but hey what is life without a challenge....................... lol.

Bye for now

Angel..........

2011-10-13T16:54:00.003+01:00

I have wanted to play over at Crafty Individuals for some time but not owning many of their products I have not had anything to fit in with the themes - until this month wah hoo! The theme this month is Winged Things and I have a Crafty Individuals stamp that fits! I'm loving the new stamps and papers and I need them to come to live with me, so don't think it will be long before I have more CI products to play with :-))

I had been playing with a technique in November Craft Stamper Crinkled Ink by Jo Capper Sandon, I won't describe the process as that would be unfair, pop over to craft stamper and find her link there, but it is a technique revisited for me that I had forgotten about so I had fun and got inky too :-). So armed with a background I then stamped my image CI 056 Angel onto this background, then stamped snowflakes with distress inks added the words peace and glitter to the wings and the snowflake which was cut with Nestabilities and was sitting on my desk saying use me! use me! lol. On reflection I think it may be a little too large but I liked the effect so I ran with it.

Its official I have made my first Christmas Card...............! Hope you like it

Close up - now you can see the glitter and background!

I will also be playing at

Gingersnap Creations Turquoise blue and purple

Simon Says Stamp and Show Things with wings

Crafty Card Makers - anything goes

Products used

Crafty Individuals Stamp Angel,

stickles glitter glue

Creative Expressions Snowflake and Sprigs and word peace from Christmas Swirl

DI broken china, dusty concord, milled lavender

Card Stampin' Up

bye for now

A Little bit Spooky!

2011-10-10T14:09:00.003+01:00

Hellooooooo
A few months ago I decided to move from blogger as I was having so much trouble as I know so many have been, well I missed you all over here and have decided to try again - sorry for the swapping around - I also have had a little break from blogging due to life, I have done a little crafting but nothing much to shout about my mojo went on hols and took a very long time to return, In the meantime I have updated my blog with a new look and hopefully I am now back with you all sharing and catching up with all the fab art that is in blog land.
Soooooooooooo to kick start me off I have made this tag to fit in with the a few challenges over Studio L3 Grungy Monday challenge 22 Halloween where we can use our fav Tim Holtz stash and Sunday Stamper challenge where Hels has asked for the colours blue and orange, well these colours shouted Halloween to me - I'm not big on Halloween and don't really have specific stamps so I went to my trusty Tim Holtz Stash and used Stamps and Salvage stickers and built my tag around two of the stickers using blue and orange.

Stamps used from Tim Holtz collection, using the Alterations Die ~ Hanging Sign I cut bracket in grunge paper and cut to fit my tag, Distress Inks chipped saphire and dried marigold were used for the background and the bracket, the pumpkin and black cat were found in my stash where they have lived since who knows when!! :-).

I am also going to play over at Crafty Calender Challenge where the theme this week is "spooky". Hope you like my tag
till next time

My favourite things.....

2011-06-05T13:24:00.000+01:00

I'm so pleased to be able to be back with my first creation in such a long time, I have missed crafting and blogging so hopefully I'm back to normal now - well normal for me that is!!!!

I have made a Tag to fit in with the Sunday Stamper challenge - A Reason to be Cheerful , I always reach for my stamps and distress inks and of course my fav die cut at the moment is Tim Holtz Dress Form so that is what I have based my tag on and I have used Tea Dye distress ink and Sage to fit in with The Artistic Stamper - Monochrome plus1 colour challenge. I have only limited supplies with me as I am away in the Scottish Borders on holiday and today it is raining cats and dogs!!! Friday we sweltered in temps of 79F - phew, and so far no scottish midges in site !!!!! lol

Stamps used Vintage Sewing - Creative Expressions and Flower from Paperartsy HP1009.
Tag was covered using Tea Die and the waste from the dress form die, the dress form was inked in bundled sage and stamped with water and then over stamped in same ink.

Sorry picture not very good not sure why, and for the rushed post as this is the third attempt at posting due to weak signal where I am.

2011-05-14T17:03:00.000+01:00

Helloooo I am missing my blogging and blogging friends and most of all being able to craft still nothing to show you my back has been slow in getting better although I am walking or should I say shuffling along and managing to get around the house a little I am still experiencing a lot of pain, my head has turned to mush with the pain killers. DH has been head cook and bottle washer for the last 2 weeks, and I'm sure he will be pleased when I can take over - maybe he will grow to like cooking giving me more time to craft... I can dream.! Hope I will be back soon, sorry this is short but can't sit for any longer to type. I will keep an eye on all my blogging friends when I can and will comment if I visit your blog.

Bye for now

AWOL ...........

2011-05-05T10:05:00.000+01:00

...........Again!!!!!!

Hi everyone just to let you know I'm still here even though I have nothing to show you at the moment. Firstly we have been away over the bank holiday time returning early beacause Mum was taken into hospital, she is home now and on the mend hopefully, then only a few days later I woke to find I couldn't move due to back trouble, after a few days in extreme pain I am getting more mobile the meds are kicking in now, I am managing to walk around a little but sitting is still a problem hence no crafting or blogging!! Life seems to have taken over with a series of events hopefully things will return to normal soon!

Good news......... I won the Stampman blog Candy whooo hooo lots of Tim goodies headed my way so my back will get better so I can play with my prize.

Meanwhile happy crafting

Easter Basket

2011-04-20T10:33:00.002+01:00

....... well Box really.....for those little Easter treats!

I have had this little project on the go for a 3 days!! Not that it is a difficult project I have made many of these little boxes for all times of the year but there just does not seem to be enough hours in the day let alone time for crafting!!! So when I saw that the Stampman Challenge #20 this time is for embossing I was thrilled that I could join in.

I love to make these little boxes and they are very simple to make and can be changed to fit any occasion.
I cut the shapes for the top and bottom from Tim Holtz Alterations die and ran them through a Sizzix embossing folder, which I thought gave the texture of a basket. I used Tea Dye Distress Ink to lightly cover the raised areas of the embossing, Easter Eggs words and picture are from TH Idea-o-logy Salvage Stickers Seasonal pack , I mounted the picture onto card and inked edges with same DI. Flowers were punched, embossed and inked again with Tea Dye DI.
Top and bottom shapes are adhered to a small box which I made in kraft coloured card, and tied a knot in Chocolate ribbon.
Also Over at Our Creative Corner the challenge this week is A 3D Easter project which hopefully my project will fit.

Filled with chocolates waiting to be eaten..... mmmm will they make Easter.........mmmmmm they have lasted 2 days so far!!!!

Here is a side view

This box is not my design just my adaption of something I think I first saw on SCS a long time ago.!

Products used
Tim Holtz Alterations Die Ornamental, Ideaology Stickers, Distress Inks.
Sizzix Embossing Folders
Stampin' Up! Card: Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, So Saffron, Ribbon: Chocolate Grosgrain 1" Punch: 5 Petal Flower

I will also be joining the following challenges
Easy Craft Challenges - Easter
Creative Craft Challenges - Embossing
Make it Monday

Thanks for looking

Easter Tag

2011-04-19T16:57:00.000+01:00

Chocolates...............

Grungy Monday Week #4 at Studio L3
and
Simon Says Stamp and Show a Lord Tim of Holtz Technique!

Which means I get to play at two challenges again for the price of one - result as I don't have very much time this week and was wondering how to fit everything in and get some time to craft.
Linda at Studio L3 has given us a link for Texture Fades and Distress Technique video for week#4 of Grungy Monday so off I popped to have a look (should have been ironing!!!) and this is what I made.

This technique is new to me so I followed the video, I stamped diamonds onto the texture fades tall trees folder in DI Victorian velvet and wild honey, I just love how the diamonds are now behind the trees! A really great fun technique and I will definitely be using it again.
For the rest of my tag I inked over the trees with crushed olive and vintage photo DI , the stickers are from Tim Holtz idea-ology Salvage Stickers Seasonal, I of course chose the word chocolate..... after all is it the time of year!!
Flower was cut from brown paper left over from my spraying last week with the TH Tattered Flowers die, I used the smallest and next size up, put them all together with a brad and scrunched them sprayed with water and left to dry, the bow is linen tape and the little bits are string you know the bit that goes through the top of the luggage tag which I cut into pieces I also frayed the ends of the tape.
Picture is showing flower darker much darker than it really is not sure why but tried in vain to get a truer colour.

In the close up you can see the diamonds behind the trees - such fun to do.

Hope you all have a Happy Easter and enjoy the holidays.

Bye for now and thanks for looking

Butterfly Dress.........

2011-04-14T16:11:00.001+01:00

........ and combining 4 challenges!

I have been having such fun with my new Sewing Room Tim Holtz Die I just love " dressing up" the dress form, this one today I have combined onto a tag.

I embossed the body with a cuttlebug folder and inked with Distress Ink wild honey and tea dye which toned down the colour a little, I attached the lace and the ribbon around the waist, both found after a rummage in my sewing box.
My tag is made using Adirondack Colour Wash which just happens to be the Grungy Monday Challenge at Studio L3, now I only own 1 colour wash which is the colour Stream, so I combined it with wild honey DI which I blended onto my tag first before spraying with the colour wash, the colours blended so well together.
Simon Says Stamp and Show challenge this week is show some Distress, so my tag enables me to play along with them too, and over at Gingersnap Creations GC98 Spicy Supply Challenge is Mists , wow I get to play over there as well and I haven't had the opportunity for too long to join in a Gingersnap Challenge so I was well chuffed to find my tag followed their criteria - I do love it when a plan comes together; LOL.

Stamps used on the tag were from Papillon Tim Holtz collection I stamped the large background in DI Tea Dye and the butterflies (under the flowers!) in Vintage Photo, flowers were made from brown paper cut with the Tattered Flowers Die using the very small one which were layered and crumpled, I cheated here as brown paper was my "spraying booth" so it was already covered in a mist of Ink, I really like the way they have turned out, my butterflies were cut using the new Stampin' Up! Embosslits Dies which cut and emboss with a negative and positive image and inked with wild honey, tea dye and broken china. They are so cute and so easy to use I have lots cut in all colours because I couldn't stop playing, you might just see these a lot!! ROFL.
I have just realized the Sunday Stamper Challenge is Blue this week, so it would be rude not to join in there too, wow 4 challenges in one has never been done before - by me anyway!!

Thanks for looking

Vintage Sewing Room......

2011-04-04T16:42:00.002+01:00

.....Altered Frame
I have been playing with my new Tim Holtz Alterations Die - Sewing Room and the newTexture Fades eembossing folder Pattern and Stitches and some new - to me - stamps Vintage Sewing Plate from Creative Expressions and I love love love them all. I just knew I needed the dress form as soon as I saw it, the ideas are spinning around in my head so I'm sure this won't be the last project I do with it, you will probably get fed up seeing it!!! LOL

Sooooo the first project I knew I wanted to do was alter a frame as I had bought some Viva Terra and Viva Inka Gold ages and ages ago for just this purpose, and Try it on Tuesday challenge blog this week the challenge is Alter a Frame with a fab prize donated by the Craft Barn, now I have meaning to play over there for a while now but time is always against me and I have only just made it this week with hours to spare !!

My frame was covered in Viva Terra and when dry I lightly rubbed some Viva Inka Gold over the raised edges can you see the sparkle? I love the feel of this cream it's just soooooo soft. Background paper is from Vintage Shabby Paper Stack which I thought looked like vintage wallpaper. The dress form is cut from Stampin' Up! Card Early Espresso and Crumb Cake which I ran through the embossing folder and inked over with DI tattered rose with vintage photo on the edges, cotton reels and buttons were cut from co-ordinations card stock and sanded, one is carrying pins and the others I wound with thread, edges were inked with same colours of DI.
The flower was made from some lace I found in my sewing box and I lightly dragged it through some worn lipstick and tattered rose DI which I had spritzed on my craft sheet and added a button. More buttons and some mini safety pins added to the frame. The tape measure I rolled up and tucked the roll under the dress form leaving a tail as it unravels this I made by stamping with archival ink and stamp from Vintage Sewing onto twill tape from Stampin' Up! Message is from same set.

Thought you might like a close up of the word plaque which is soooo definitely true - in this house anyway!!
Hope you like my efforts It has turned out just as I hoped reminding me of how my sewing room used to feel in another life before I found those little things called rubber stamps and started making inky things instead of sewing things, lol and this is another first for me - can you believe it is the first frame I have altered and I have many that I have collected from charity shops etc., so will have to do more.....

I will also be entering the following challenges I don't usually manage to join challenges together and it wasn't my intention when I created this project but my creation seems to fit the bill on several blog sites which means I get to play at more places this week - fantastic!

Simon Says Stamp and Show - Anything but a card

The Stamp Man Challenge - Anything Tim

Just for Fun

Products used: Tim Holtz/Sizzix Alterations Die and Textured Fades embossing folder Pattern and stitches, Distress Inks, Paper Stash; Stampin' Up! card and buttons; Creative Expressions Stamp Plate; Viva Decor

Thanks for looking
bye for now

Grungy Monday - Week #2...........

2011-04-04T13:02:00.000+01:00

........Just what Monday's are for!

Week 2 of Grungy Monday and I was thrilled, well squealing with delight, to be asked by Linda Studio L3 to be a Guest Designer along with Eileen for #2 challenge. Week 1 of GM was just brilliant and so much fun and again this week Linda has chosen a fabulous tutorial video HERE by the Master of all that is inky Tim Holtz for us to try.
Grungy Monday is all about being inspired by Tim's techniques and I was inspired to make a book to hopefully hold all my Grungy Monday efforts in one place - this is the first time I have used this technique but I found it easy and fun to do and will definitely be using again.

Tim's tutorial uses Claudine Hellmuth Studio Multi Medium which I didn't have any of so I improvised using pva glue. Firstly I cut my stamps from foam, -again I didn't have the product Tim is using so I improvised - there's that word again from my stash.
For my stamp I used the caged bird die. Next I cut my main shape with Tim's Alterations Ornamental Die and movers and shakers keyhole from grungeboard and paper from an old book, I attached these together with pva glue and left to dry.! Now not being a patient person I couldn't wait to try out the stamping with pva soooo with another book page I followed the tutorial and followed it exactly and yippee it worked just as Tim said it would - I never doubted him for a minute!! my tip is don't overload your stamp with the glue 2 reasons it takes too long to dry and second stamp slips - lessons learned from experience!!! lol.
I inked this page with DI chipped sapphire and shabby shutters and ripped around the bird (bottom right) by this time my main page was dry so I repeated the same steps with the bird (top left) only this time I used DI's wild honey, scattered straw and barn door until I had the colour I was pleased with, then I ripped more pieces of the previously inked book pages and added them, stamped a swirl from TH stamp plate in black archival ink around the edges. Flower was cut with the tattered flower die, inked and spritzed and crunched while wet, I love doing these flowers they seem to be on everything lately!! The letters GM are epoxy letters from my stash which I added to idea-ology pins with glossy accents. Finally I added the Idea-ology hardware and inked edges with DI black soot.

Here is the completed book front which I cut from grungeboard with Alterations On the Edge Die, I then ran it through an embossing folder and painted both sides using Ranger Dabber paints butterscotch for the first coat, over coated with pale blue and sanded when dry, inked edges with DI black soot.

Thanks Linda for another great technique I can't wait to see everyones art, Click on Studio L3 and be transported to the land of TIM and loads of fun!

Products used
Ranger/ Tim Holtz; Alterations Dies, Idea-ology, Grungeboard, Glossy Accents, Distress Inks, Paint Dabbers
Own stash PVA glue, foam, old book pages, epoxy letters

bye for now

2011-03-31T23:13:00.001+01:00

Tonight I have been playing with stamps and punches papers and tags, after rummaging through a box I keep previously made backgrounds I came across this tag, over at Lets Ink it Up their challenge is diecuts/punches and some stamping. This challenge finishes soon - very soon so short post for this one!!!!!

Here is what I came up with

The background was made with Tim Holtz mask and sprayed with shimmer mists which I over stamped with sentiment. I stamped the owl in brown twice and cut him out layering second layer onto pads, newsprint papers were punched with border punch and
flowers were punched using flower punch, twine was twisted for his perch and added to the large flower.
Supplies Stamps Stampin' Up! Punch Bunch, one touch of nature Ink early espresso, DSP paper stack Subtles, newsprint, Brads subtles collection; Punches ;Mask Tim Holtz

bye for now

Less is more!

2011-03-31T20:36:00.001+01:00

Today I realized that I had some birthday cards to make and post all in the same day!! organized me - never you would think that I would have a stack of cards made for such occasions, well I have but when I sort through them there is nothing there suitable!!!!!!! So with time not on my side I thought keep it simple which will be quick as all I need is a colour combo and I'm off - ooooooooh no not today mojo has deserted me mind blank - so off I go to blog challenge land to get some inspiration and I found it at Less is More where the challenge this week is a sketch using a DL card.

My card was created using cuttlebug embossing folder and Stampin' Up! products. Main card is crumb cake
which I ran through the embossing folder, I then cut a strip of baja Breeze and added Marina Mist Ribbon before attaching to card, next I stamped image onto whisper white card, I wanted a layered look so I punched out the centre with the image on which left the stamped scallop image which I then punched out with the scallop circle, then a second scallop from Baja Breeze card, then added the previous punched out scallop to this one and added circle with design to this on pads. Lastly I added Happy Birthday to the bottom of the card in Baja Breeze - photo not really showing this very well
Phew takes longer to explain than it did to make lol, I really enjoyed making this card with its simple but effective design, time ran out on me but I intend to make some more and add them to my stock of cards it really was a quick one to make. I made 2 and they are now wizzing through the post - I hope!
Stamp Sets used Stampin' Up! Punch Bunch, So happy for you.

bye for now

Butterflies and more Butterflies

2011-03-29T15:45:00.002+01:00

Hi everyone,

Firstly I must say thank you for all of the messages and comments left for me on my last post, I really do appreciate them. It has been a terrible time and we are starting to get back into everyday life again. For me crafting helps, and after suffering withdrawal symptoms on a Monday after the CC finished I couldn't wait for Monday Morning to come around this week - Yeah Grungy Monday has started and the lovely Linda over at Studio L3 has given us our first Challenge, phew I felt I had been holding my breath all morning and as always it was worth the wait. The idea is that Linda will set us a challenge every week for us to be inspired by the work of Tim Holtz. The first challenge is to be inspired by one of Tim's 12 days of Christmas Tags 2008 Day 10 not sure what I 'm rambling about click on the link to Studio L3 and be transported to the the details and to see some amazing work, come on over and join the fun.

Here's mine
I have made my tag using my New Tim Holtz stamps Papillon, I love this set and knew as soon as I saw it they were destined to live with me as I love butterflies.

I used DI's, as I don't have any reinkers to make spray, I cut a tag from card and attached paper from TH Paper Stash Vintage Shabby - you are truly honored as this is the first time I have cut into these fabulous papers, only managing to stroke and admire them until today!! I chose a grey spotted page option and this was cut with TH Tag Die, using the flourish mask I followed the instructions on the link, then I used the big stamp in the set to stamp over everything in pumice, the butterflies were stamped on a strip of a different paper from same pad in pumice and the edges cut with on the edge postage die, and I also used the strip - at bottom of tag - that is cut at same time oooo I love these edgy dies. My Butterfly is a grungeboard die cut which I stamped with the large stamp again and embossed in black before painting with Cosmic Shimmer Paint which has given a subtle pink tint - so subtle you can hardly see it in the photo but it's there! My flower is inked with Victorian Velvet and scrunched while wet. I also added some stickles glitter to the edges and petals.
Not sure why but the photo shows the flower looking quite brown, in real live it is shabby pink - honest. Lastly I heated some ribbon with my heat gun and added to tag.

Hope you like my take on this weeks challenge, here is a close up of the butterfly.
Thank you Linda for leading us in these challenges I feel we are in for Fun Fun Fun on Grundgy Monday.
Items used TH Paper Stash Vintage Shabby, Stamps Papillon, Alterations Dies, Tag, On The Edge postage and tattered flowers (small flower used), DI's Victorian Velvet and Pumice, Ribbon Stampin Up!

It's raining so I had better rescue the washing and then introduce myself to the hoover and do a bit of H********k!!!

Ooops in my excitment to get the h*******k done (not) I forgot to link this tag with the Stampman Challenge - Anything Tim! 2 in 1 means I manage to play over there this time too, time usually runs out before I get to play!

Bye for now

Fly Free

2011-03-24T08:30:00.002Z

Hello everyone in blogging land it has been nearly a week since I have made anything crafty, we were away last weekend making the most of the lovely sunshine but the bubble soon popped as we returned to the sad news our dear friend had lost his courageous battle with cancer, it was such an unexpected turn of events.

Last night however I just felt the need to craft so with nothing in mind I went to the room of craftymess!!! and this piece evolved. Everything I used was to hand on my very messy desk after I had cleared a space big enough to craft in hence the size of the project I suppose!!! lol. So today I would like to share this piece with you,
I used TH DI victorian velvet wild honey scattered straw and milled lavender for the background and Alterations caged bird die, also Tim Holtz stamp plate, flowers were paper ones which I inked and spritzed with water and crumpled them left to dry and this gives the shabby look to them which I am liking very much at the moment it seems to be my thing!!! for now anyway.

I will be entering this piece into the following challenges
Simon says Stamp and Show a Word
The Artistic Stamper Creative Team Blog - Spring
Sunday Stampers - Die cuts

Thanks for stopping off to read my blog

Today we say goodbye to a dear dear friend with a service to celebrate his life.

Bye for now

Upcycle and Doodle

2011-03-17T08:54:00.013Z

Brown, Green and Doodles

Last night I had and an urge to make ATC's as I have really negleted these little beauties for far to long - sooooooooooo card cut and items collected my mojo just disappeared.......eeekkkkk don't you just hate it when this happens - off I went to browse blogland and yipee I was inspired again twice - yes 2 different ATC's were jogging around in my little grey cells. Now I must warn you those who love ATC's I appologise for the 2nd one all will be reveiled later all I will say get the tissues ready as you will need it to mop up the tears - of laughter or crying at my efforts.!!!!! You have been warned ROFL.

Enough rambling my 1st one was inspired by the tutorial over at Hels blog for her lovely roses and also Sunday Stampers for the challenge this week is Brown. In keeping with my on going upcycling of packaging I used for the backgound paper from the idea-ology packs which has a lovely green swirl going through it, I used the free stamp from Craft Stamper Mag to make the roses, these were stamped onto Tim Holtz papers from the retro paper stack - following the tutorial which is supper clear - thanks Hels - I got very sticky and after I had prized my fingers off the glue pot I had three reasonable roses - not upto your standards Hels but I tried!!!!! I put TH vintage photo distress stickles onto the petals , sentiment is from TH stamps plate.Pearls were in my stash - the little rose was made with only 2 flowers. Thanks for the tutoriall Hels - me thinks I need to practice more though. lol.

Now for my 2nd - if you can stop laughing long enough to read this part I will tell you how it came about. Over at Gingersnap Creations Petra Berendsen introduces us to Small Scale Doodling, now I know lots of you doodle, well I do when I'm on the phone, or bored!!!! but when it came to trying this I can't tell you how hard I found it, so taking on board what Petra said I thought I would try it with a stamp - and yes I did find this a little easier so this is how this little ATC came about. I really enjoyed doodling inside the flower petals larger doodles will need a little practice. A few of you have shared your doodles on blogland and what I have seen so far have been fantastic, sometimes it is good to go outside your comfort zone and I have, most definately, but it was fun and thanks for looking at my efforts, I can't believe I was brave enough to share!!!

Bye for now

Metal Bird Lucky again

2011-03-15T10:59:00.001Z

OMG! I have been picked for Home Page Artist over at Gingersnap Creations for their Challenge GC91 Crowns Oh wow I'm speechless - how much excitment can a girl take - lots and lots ROFL. Click on the link to see some amazing work and great challenges. Got to go have to make hot chocolate to celebrate!!!

bye for now

HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY MONDAY

2011-03-14T10:20:00.001Z

Compendium of Curiosities Challenge Final Prize - I've Won!!!!!!!!!

Woooooooooo Hooooooooo see me running round crying and screaming - well not now because finally I have stopped long enough to type this post and tell you and here is piccy of the prize I have copied from Linda's blog hope she didn't mind lol.

OMG look at all the gorgeousness, my favourite stamp - man with umbrella and it is signed by Tim Holtz I can't wait for postie to arrive, well worth having everything crossed for 35 challenges - Thank you Tim and Mario for the generous prizes you have given and of course to the lovely Linda who has led us through each challenge can't wait to see what she has for us next. Click Studio L3 to see what the next journey is.
Thank you to everyone who has left a comment on my blog I hope to see you all on Linda's next journey. I can't sit still any longer sooooooo excited will be back later

Bye for now

Metal Bird .......

2011-03-11T13:19:00.002Z

Design Detail

Here we are Week #35 and the last, final, end of the CC Challenge and this week fittingly we are using the final technique in the book on page 67. I have managed to complete all of the challenges Whoooo Hoooooo :-() and enjoyed the whole experience. All hail to our leader through this journey the lovely Linda and of course the King of grunge and all things Inky Tim Holtz who has allowed us to share his wonderful techniques from his Compendium of Curiosities book and for all the wonderful prizes. I still have everything crossed just in case I am lucky in the draw!!! This has caused problems crafting and I probably will be stuck like this forever - how a girl must suffer for her craft LOL.

I have to say this was the hardest challenge for me don't know why perhaps because the ideas didn't flow but as I gathered some of my favourite things.......... thats a song ....sing along with me ......lol; ok sorry I get distracted and float off the subject frequently..... together I was away and my last page came together quite quickly,flower is made with tattered flowers die, DI used victorian velvet and vintage photo, pink sherbert dabber used on tag, texture fades embossing folders used for background and metal.
I have linked things together that mean something to me for the whole challenge....K is for King of Grundge....Tim Holtz who's book has made this journey possible and 35 for the challenge week we ended on, also the inspire tag is just what the challenge has done...inspired me and lastly Enjoy the Journey.. I certainly have. Hope you like it. I will try to leave a comment on as many blogs as I can this week.

I have met some lovely talented people along the way and I thank you all for your visits to my blog and for the lovely comments left along the way. How will we survive Monday mornings without the lovely Linda - has she something else up her sleeve for us? well it has been hinted at so we will have to wait and see!!!

As I have used metal on the design so I am joining in with the challenge at Simon Says Show Some Metal and also at Gingersnap Creations where the Random Redhead Challenge GC91 is Crowns and I think this will fit in perfectly.

All items used were Tim Holz except for the metal not sure where I got this and the card is co-ordinations

Phew long post

Bye for now

NATURE and SWIRLS

2011-03-09T15:02:00.000Z

I have made today's card with a Nature theme which will fit in with the Sunday Stampers challenge for this week. I also took some inspiration from the article by Joe Firth-Young - Painted Mini Book in the April Craft Stamper Mag for main image and put my own spin on it. First I painted gesso over a book page which I stuck onto card and left to dry overnight - I know how patient was I!!!! lol. Then DI inks shabby shutters, dried marigold, scattered straw were used for the background, I like the look this gives where the page is showing through but by painting first the text is pushed into the background; this was then cut with Nestabilities die, stamped with Organic Grace stamp set from Stampin' Up! in black.

Now I always seem to reach for swirls when I'm making backgrounds and as Curls and Swirls is the current Stampman Challenge I reached for my swirls stamps by Creative Expressions for the background piece of card, firstly I stamped in Cajon Craze Ink SU same colour as the card and over stamped a smaller swirl and embossed in gold, swirls were added to the bottom strip also. The flower was cut from book pages with the tattered flowers Die TH and inked in same DI's before spritzing with water and scrunching up and leave to dry if you have the time or use heat gun which is the way I went, lastly I rubbed over embossing ink and used .gold embossing powder I love the way this technique makes the flower look very shabby.

Thanks for looking and don't forget if you pop over to my blog please leave a comment it's nice to hear from you

Bye for now

SPRING TIME

2011-03-04T20:58:00.001Z

Dimensional Collage Fragments

Recycling seems to be where I'm getting my inspiration at the moment my last piece of work was using recycled plastic packaging and now I have been playing with corrugated cardboard paints and inks and made this hanging.

Over at Studio L3 the CC challenge #34 this week set by Linda is Dimensional Collage Fragments on page 63 of Tim's CC book, I can't tell you how I have completed the fragment those are the rules....... although I can tell you that I stamped the group onto a book page then onto a flower sticker from the ~TH retro paper stack which if you look closely you will see on the dress of the girl and waistcoat of the little boy and then I mounted this onto the stamped picture for colour, I also used parts of other flower stickers in the collage the rest of the technique was from ~TH book Compendium of Curiosities. All images stamped behind the fragment are TH. Pop over to Studio L3 and have a look at the great art there.

For a place for the fragment to sit I drew around a small dinner plate onto corrugated packaging and peeled away some of the layers and then using TH paint dabbers in green and pink and splashed some colour around, I wanted some bright colour for Springtime and to tie in with the colours in the stickers I used in the fragment.

My inspiration for the layout came from Inspirational Card Sketches ICS, I loved this weeks sketch and thought it was just right for this piece so I am joining in there, pop over and have a look at some great inspiration.

Also joining in at The Cheerful Stamp Pad
Materials used: Tim Holtz, Stampin' Up! Martha Stewart Punche

Bye for now

Altered Metal Hanging

2011-02-27T20:04:00.001Z

I can't believe it has been so long since I last blogged ; I have had the most awful cold I can ever remember having and it laid me low for a week and today is the first time I have felt like getting into my room of craft and boy has it taken me ages to complete this piece but I was determined to enter the CC Challenge over at Studio L3 hosted by the wonderful Linda, this week is Altered Metal Alchol Inks week #33

The hanging is made from a piece of plastic packaging and I inserted a backing piece into the back which I had stamped onto a distressed background that I had made previously, then I ran two pieces of metal sheet through a texture fades embosing folder and using Alchol Inks willow, caramel,oregano,stonewash I applied these straight to the metal and let them run into the groves I let these dry and then add small drops of a different colour and let them blend, all this was experimental but I am please with how it turned out in the end.

I also coloured a TH metal disk artful with caramel AI (hard to see in photo) attached wire for hanging and made some paper flowers from Stampin' Up! DSP, Bird was cut with TH Die in grundgboard and run through same folder, then painted with sail boat dabber left to dry and then brushed lightly over with Aqua, wing is cut from metal and dabbed with AI.

below is a close up picture where you can just about see the artful disk and bird detail also.

I will also be linking this with Sunday Stampers theme which is Paris, hope this piece will fit as if you look ever so closely..... yes there behind the little bird .....is the top of the tower and also the word Paris is in the metal...............over to you Hels!!!

I'm off to post this over at studio L3 before I miss the deadline altogether, thanks for looking

Bye for now

TIME............

2011-02-10T09:50:00.001Z

..........has flown by this week and I don't seem able to catch it!! however I managed to make this tag last night .
Linda at studio L3 posted the challenge for week #31 Rusted Enamel on page 41 of Tim's book Compendium of Curiosities, I can't tell you how I did that bit .... it was such fun and I can't believe I have never used it before, will be again lots and lots though.

I used Tim Holtz stamps for all the stamping, the clocks on the background were stamped before I put the final detail of the technique onto the tag as per the CC book, sentiment was stamped after I had distressed tag with DI and then I ran it through a texture fades embossing folder patchwork and de-bossed the design of a clock face onto it it is there really it is perhaps if you look really closely....lol. Finally the Ideology clock face was attached with a big dollop of 3D glue chain was in my stash and glued with glossy accents. DI used weathered wood,chipped sapphire, vintage photo, black soot.

This tag fits in with the challenge over at Sunday Stampers hosted by Hels which is Time and she has also linked to The Artistic Stamper Creative Team blog pop over and see dettails. My third challenge is with Simon Says Stamp and Show some Embossing, as I have used heat embossing and dry embossing.

Thanks for looking and for all your lovely comments you leave when you drop in to see me

Apologies for the shadow in photo taken in bad light early this morning! very dark and cloudy here today looks like rain!

Bye for now

Cute Cottage and mini album

2011-02-09T14:04:00.002Z

Who stoll the week!!! here we are on Wednesday already and I have been bursting at the seams to tell you all about the fantastic workshop I went to on Saturday held at Bubbly Funk Shop owned by Caroline . The class was to make a Cottage complete with concertina mini album with Di Oliver from Tando Creative Limited, I had a great time getting inky; messy; gossiping and crafting all day, Caroline spoiled us with Choccy biccies, lunch and cake and as much tea and coffee that we could drink. Now I love making mini albums and couldn't wait to start, we used products from Viva Decor and Eco Crafts which were FAB. Need these for my stash now.

How cute is this

Fab tree covered with Terra which gives texture and then was painted

One side has tree complete with swing

This is one side that opens to reveal the concertina mini album below how it is open.

I have yet to put the finishing touches to the album ie decorate and add photos so will post again at a later date to show the album finished. Thanks again Di and Caroline for a wonderful days crafting and for lunch and cake!!

The Mini album I made which was the post before this one; for the Gingersnap Creations Challenge using Coffee Filters has been chosen as a Ginger Gem Whooo Hoo thanks ladies I am thrilled you liked it and thank you for all the lovely comment that have been left.

Bye for now

Coffee Filter Album

2011-02-04T18:51:00.000Z

I love to make mini albums and have made quite a few featuring my grandson on our adventures together, I look for all sorts of things to make them from.

A little while ago I made an album especially for recording memories of our gorgeous Golden Retriever Meg who we sadly lost in April 2010 I didn't manage to complete it the time wasn't right but I was inspired to get it out again and add some photo's and journaling after seeing the GC86 Coffee Filters Challenge over at Gingersnap Creations.

I have debated all week if I would post these pages but then came to the conclusion that as the Gingersnap Challenge had inspired me to work again on this memory book then I could share this special book with you all.

Front Cover

I have left the pockets made by the filters to hold tags made by cutting out from card using the filter as a template where I will add more journaling and photos. Filters have been covered both sides with paper and ink has been used to distress edges I hope to give it the look of coffee stains on the pages.

below are some pages I selected which show her nature

These pages are showing some of her favourite things to do, she loved being out and about with us and away in our Motorhome she loved everything and everybody such was her kind and loving nature.

Thank you for looking and indulging my memories, this was not an easy book to make and I have shed quite a few tears this week, but I know in time we will look at this and get great pleasure from the
*Memories of Meg *

Products used Stampin' Up! ;Nestabilities; Slice cutting system

Bye for now

Tag of Love

2011-02-03T13:05:00.001Z

Week #30 CCC Altered Metal with Paint

Linda has set us this challenge for week #30 from the Tim Holtz Compendium of Curiosities Book on page 48. Now you know by now I can't say how I did it but if you have the book have a go and join in over at Studio L3 hosted by the lovely Linda . Sadly this challenge is drawing to an end and I have managed to join in every week except one, I for one will miss it but Linda hinted last week - well teased - that there may be more to come................. how exciting is that!!
I have also combined this project with several other challenges with a Love theme. Sunday Stampers hosted by Hels - Sentiments ; The Artistic Stampers Creative Team Blog - Love is in the Air; Simon Says Stamp and Show - Some Love.

Tag was inked with DI rusty hinge, worn lipstick, metal was altered according to the book technique with ranger dabber paints watermelon Idea-ology heart and terra cotta clip(Stampin Up!.) Stamps used from Tim Holtz. Tag background was stamped and embossed within an inch of its little life as I got a bit carried away in the process, the Sentiment was stamped onto an Idea-ology Journaling Ticket in black versafine, clip and heart were attached and finally I found some red roses in my stash.... amazing what you find when you rummage isn't it...LOL lastly I added velvet ribbon which I found in a bargain bin for 50p for 5meteres - bargain .......I should say!!

Hope you like my creation and please leave me a comment if you drop in as it is always lovely to hear from you, till next time.............

Bye for now

TIME FOR TEA

2011-01-30T17:28:00.001Z

GC85 - Hot Beverages

I have managed to get in some crafting time this afternoon and made this fridge magnet inspired by the GC85 Chesnut Theme Challenge over at Gingersnap Creations. I used Tim Holtz Alterations Die for the background, card and papers and Ink are Stampin' Up! Stamp was Craft Stamper Magazine Free stamp which I stamped onto two different papers and cut out, flower I made from punching out flower shapes and crunching them up when wet and leave to dry.

Thanks for looking

Bye for now

Love is in the Air

2011-01-29T15:12:00.002Z

........everywhere you go....... this song has been buzzing around in my head all morning while I was crafting haven't googled to see who sang it though because I thought it would come to me by now but it hasn't Oh well will have to go and google......before I do here is the Hanging I made for Compendium of Curiosities Challenge posted by the lovely Linda at StudioL3 Week#29 is Weathered Wood Grunge on page 50. Also over at Hels place Sunday Stamper Week #138 is Buttons - now this song thing playing around in my head all started here with that song Push the Button....... so it all Hels fault......... LOL.
Lastly Our Creative Corner challenge this week is a 3D Project with a Valentine Theme. This is the first time I have ever managed three challenges in one .....

The base for my hanging was grunge put through a TH texture fade folder Bingo, and then the steps followed as per page 50. Paint used pink sherbet dabber and DI barn door. The heart was run through another texture fade folder with the deposed side showing, all were cut with the Slice cutting tool, DI black soot on edges, at the bottom the frill is made with red crepe paper music paper punched with martha stewart punch and ribbon added, flowers were made from punched out flowers from double sided papers and scrunched when wet and left to dry, lastly I added buttons. Words were made on my Xyron runner and punched out. I have had a great time this morning making this and playing with some tools I have left lounging in their boxes for far too long.

Below are some close up pics

Here it is hanging in my room of craft

All other punches, card and DSP used were from Stampin' Up.

OMG Almost forgot....... I was chosen again this week for A Ginger Gem over at GingerSnap Creations for my One Layer Card in their once in a blue moon challange click here if you want to peek at the blog post and I am wearing the Ginger Gem Badge with pride.........lol.
Phew long post today sorry.....................but just had to share my joy

Bye for now

Maggie

Lets Ink It Up Design Team Call

2011-01-28T08:40:00.001Z

Let's Ink It Up is looking for 2-3 fabulous ladies

to join our Design Team
term begins March 2011

Do you want to be involved in an exciting challenge blog?

Do you love rubber/clear stamping?

Do you love to get inky?

My answer is Yes, Yes, Yes.............

......... to all the above, I love my stamps and getting messy and inky is a day spent in heaven, I would also really like to take on a new and exciting challenge, so off I went to look back through my blog for 3 projects to show my work to Let's Ink It Up team. I have chosen the ones I enjoyed making the most and here they are:

First choice is an altered Canvas, my very first one, which I really had fun doing, lots of stamping and inking and getting messy. Click here to see original blog post.

2nd choice is a card which I thought shows my love for distressing and using old book pages in my work and that I do use pretty colours too!!! LOL. click here for original post.

I had such fun making this mini canvas that I just had to include it, lots of stamping, chipboard and paint.
Click here for original post.

Hope you enjoy looking and my work I have chosen, I have everything crossed and good luck to all that are taking up the DT call.

Bye for now

Oh what a lovely Day........

2011-01-25T16:13:00.005Z

Oh what a beautiful feeling..........

Over at Gingersnap Creations I have been chosen as a Ginger Gem for my entry in the GC84 Snow, Pine and Mahogany Challenge Wahooooooo, thank you very much, just in case you may not have seen it .....scroll to bottom of post for picture of my Christmas Card.

Moving on but staying with Gingersnap Creations SP6 Once in a Blue Moon - Ginspiration Challenge - is coming to a close there are several challenges within this one challenge and today I made a Single Layer Card as challenged by Jo Capper-Sandon Now this was not as easy as first thought as I love my layers so this was quite a challenge. I decided to go with a sketchy look and try out my new Stamp set Every Moment from Stampin' Up! I love the sketchy look these stamps give. Main card blank in a creamy caramel colour from my stash.

Firstly I inked my acrylic block with Crumb Cake ink ( SU) and then spritzed with water and stamped onto card......... using the block as a stamp is a fun thing to do......... then I stamped in darker ink Early Expresso (SU) the large flower, butterfly and quote going off the edge a little.

Quote Reads "When we see with our hearts, every moment is the most wonderful gift in the world"

Hope this does qualify as a 1 layer card for this challenge. Hope you like it.

Bye for now

New Baby

2011-01-21T08:45:00.000Z

A new baby card was required this week as my dear friends daughter has had her second baby girl, making my friends third granddaughter so this gave me the opportunity to make a cute card something I don't do nearly enough of and with hardly any distressing in the making. lol. I used my nestabilities to cut and emboss all the scallops I then inked around the edges of the main circle with the die inplace, cut the border and threaded my ribbon, inked the larger flower (I did say hardly any distressing ) and added a pearl to smaller one.
As I have used dots in my card I will be joining in at Simon Says Stamp and Show which this week is Polka Dots.

Ingredients
Stamped pram image is from the Artful Stamper;
Ink Pretty in Pink; Paper polka dots, card, sweet baby and congratulations stamps , circle punch, ribbon Stampin' Up!

Bye for now

CCC week #28

2011-01-20T12:53:00.000Z

CC Challenge this week st by the lovely Linda over at Studio L3 is Colourful Layered Fragments.....

I had to improvise a lot with this one as I didn't have one of the elements needed for this challenge so armed with cotton wool buds (not very good) I completed this weeks challenge.

Stamps used TH and distress inks, I stamped the image onto the tag and lay fragment over the top, background edges were covered with Tim Holtz tape, have I said how wonderful I think this product is... I have ..... I love it so versatile.

Shock horror!!! Linda has said we only have 8 challenges left including this one............. oh my what will Mondays be like without CCC :-(

Bye for now

Distress Misting Masks

2011-01-15T06:38:00.003Z

CCC Week #27

Phew I have made this weeks challenge, missed last week (I was gutted) as I have bad back still on going but I managed to sit in short burst to make this tag sooooooooooooo frustrating!

This weeks challenge posted by Linda at Studio L3 is on page 60. I used TH mask for the background and DI stormy skies shabby shutters and perfect pearls. Stamp from plate by Creative Expressions I just love the Saxophone, old music sheet torn......still have problems tearing pages from books..... from old music book donated from DH as one he didn't need from his large collection salvaged from charity shops. I stamped the sentiment onto background and cut out.

Sentiment reads just in case you can't read it..........: Music and rhythm find their way into the secret places of the soul.

Over at Simon Says Stamp and Show this weeks is show some masking so I will be joing in there too with this tag.

Bye for now

Lots of BIRTHDAYS......

2011-01-11T16:47:00.000Z

January is a month of family birthdays DD is first which was last Saturday the 8th DH is tomorrow the 12th and mine is Sunday 16th ( there is a clue in my blog name Capricorn Craft ) LOL and last but not least our Grandsons is the 21st..... phew a houseful of Capricorns except for the last one he just missed being a Capricorn by one day............so today I am posting DH birthday card that has taken me days yes days to complete as I have had a bad back and sitting for any length of time has been a right pain in the ............back!!!

Music was my theme and as he is always browsing charity shops for old music books I have added part of a page from one of those books... don't panic he didn't want this one..... honest .. I distressed the edges, Stamp plate is from Creative Expressions I just had to have this one as this boy looks just like my DH when he was a boy; really it does , I have layered onto co-ordination's card which again I have distressed and cut with Tim Holtz On The Edge Die, stamped image is embossed in black and then DI inks Stormy Sky and Tumbled Glass have been added, Just a Note was stamped onto part of page from music book and distressed by crumpling and then touching edges with black soot DI. Buttons from and main card from Stampin' Up!

Have to finish now as I have been sitting long enough hopefully I can get back to crafting soon I was gutted to miss out on last weeks CCC !!

Bye for now

Happy New Year!

2010-12-31T10:54:00.001Z

Compendium of Curiosities Challenge Week #24

CCC week #24 posted by the lovely Linda at Studio L3 has only a few days to run so last night with my brain still like mush and no mojo at all ...... think it has got thrown out with the rubbish over the holidays...... I made this tag after a lot of practise backgrounds being thrown in the bin I managed to come up with two tags backgrounds which I thought were passable for this technique, DI used barn door, pine needles and peeled paint, stamps TH, those eagle crafters eyes out there will spot techniques from the twelve tags posted by Tim Holtz the tape rosette turned out a lot better this time and I didn't get all stuck up with it either ... Hope you like my effort and roll on the next CCC not long to go when hopefully my brain will be back in crafting mojo.

Hope you all have a fantastic New Years Eve and I wish you all

A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011!!!!!!

Bye for now

Santa has been..................

2010-12-28T11:58:00.004Z

Snow- Pine - Mahogany

Hope you all had a lovely Christmas and Santa bought all you had wished for we had a great day with family and plenty of excitement Christmas Eve with our grandson who was sooooooooo excited that he hardly slept all night and crept into our bed at 2.30 am telling me "Santa's been" bless him I did get him back in his own bed but I really don't think he slept although he was quite!!. In the morning there were sledge tracks in the snow and footprints to the door.............much excitement by one little boy ..........

Now I made this card for DH with the theme above which is the Gingersnap Creations Colour Challenge GC84 and I apologise for posting after Christmas but with the last min mad rush I forgot to post... Tag was made using DI aged mahogany, pine needle peeled paint I made the moon after applying aged mahogany around a circle, stamped and embossed forest with green glitter embossing powder (one in my stash with no name) (also stamped trees in the background with pine needles) and because it was rough to the touch by dragging embossing ink over them and dusting with white fine line embossing powder this gave the effect of snow on the trees I was really very pleased how this technique turned out as I was just experimenting..... Snowflakes were stamped and embossed in white and Santa stamped and embossed in black, I dry embossed white card with snowflakes (if you look really hard you can see them lol) and mounted all onto Burgundy (nearest I had to mahogany).

Ingredients Tim Holtz stamp snowflakes and DI 's and Tag; Stampin' Up! Card, punches, merry christmas stamp white embossing powder; Santa stamp and trees Creative Expressions; Sizzix Embossing Boards snowflakes

Also I'm sorry to say I have had to change the way comments are received on this blog and have switched on word verification hope you will bear with me on this as I have had some very weird and not very nice comments left so hope this will deter them.

Bye for now

2010-12-23T21:27:00.000Z

Wishing you a Merry Christmas
and a very
Happy New Year
thank you for popping by my blog and leaving such great comments
see you in the New Year

Bye for now

Glitter Glitter Everywhere..............

2010-12-23T21:20:00.001Z

A quick post to show this card and enter it into the Gingersnap Creations Challenge White Glitter as you can imagine there is quite literally glitter everywhere the house sparkles and twinkles as the glitter trail has followed me even though I made this card a few days ago taking a photo of glitter is not easy and this is the best of .. a lot.....

Must dash and go and make jelly for trifle or it won't be set for tomorrow.......

Stamps Used Dasher and snow burst sets, Marina Mist, whisper white and night of navy, scallop border punch and glitter all Stampin' Up!

Bye for now

SNOW PEOPLE

2010-12-22T18:08:00.000Z

Hi everyone are you snowed in we are 6" has fallen altogether and although looking out of my window is like winter wonderland I can't get to the main road today so Christmas Shopping has been postponed until tomorrow hopefully ...... yes you heard right still have some to do not panicking ....much mostly food and DD was off work due to snow yesterday and walked to shops and she reported manic shoppers everywhere so she went home again, Oh well it is Christmas! I will do battle with the shops tomorrow and take DH to carry everything.

In between housework (only done at special times) and getting ready for the onslaught of family Christmas day if they can get here, baking and generally being a home goddess ....... one has to do ones duty at this time of year....... I have been crafting and making cards.

This one is for my Grandson who is very excited and I spoke to him on the phone today and we talked about Father Christmas coming in his sleigh and this year there is enough snow for him to glide over and he will not have to fly... also Rudolph will need plenty of carrots as it is very cold...... he was squealing with excitement by the time we had finished our conversation and was off to look at the roof in case Santa's sleigh had been there already as there would be tracks in the snow, (he is nearly 6) ahhhh bless so I expect DS was very pleased I called..................... anyway enough gossiping here is my card "snowpeople" love snow people which I will be entering into the Gingersnap Creations GC81 Snowpeople challenge. I made a shaker card which he loves cut out shape with nesties embossed the acetate with a Sizzix swirl folder, which I think makes it look like your looking through a frosted glass, the card was also embossed with same folder, stamp is one I have had for years and years and there is no name on it, coloured with copics pens had to put red in somewhere as it it his favourite colour, ribbon and scallop punch Stampin' Up!

Better go now and ice the Christmas Cake will try to post others tomorrow if I have survived the shops!!!

Bye for now

A Final Farewell

2010-12-14T10:53:00.001Z

Last 3 Tags of the 12 Days of Tags

I finally finished the last 3 tags last night between coughing sneezing and runny eyes........I was determined as last year I failed miserably only 2 completed!!! Feeling a lot better this morning your good wishes and crafting must have been good for me, just as well as I will have to hit the shops later today and do some Christmas Shopping as I didn't manage any at the weekend!!

Day 10
Snowman is stamped from TH stamps and decorated like Tim's - very scary cutting up a snowman .....not to mention my big fingers getting in the way and all stuck up etc etc... this said I think he looks cute, the only TH folder I had that fitted was the swirls. I found the buttons a while ago buried in my stash and wired them onto the ribbon.

Day 11
Again improvising ....stamped the a fir tree onto grungeboard and filled in with DI pine needles then cut out added white distress crackle paint to the tips of tree - my fluffy stuff dried dull should have used white glue not dries clear I think so I improvised with the crackle paint. Stamped the same tree tops down the edge and used clear embossing powder - will try out the stamp technique when I have more time.

Day 12
This one really tested me as I didn't have any of the supplies. I used the TH die hanging sign and the Hope movers and shapers die; now to get this to work I first cut out the hanging sign which I then placed accross the TH ornimental die, this is the one that the Hope movers and shapers die fits in and then ran through my bigshot, and it worked yipeeeeeeeee - are you still with me then I used DI ink and the Distress crackle rock candy clear. Paper was from TH paper stack retro grunge - only one I have, pine cone decoration was scavenged from the bowl ( see background).

I have really really enjoyed the journey and so glad I didn't fall at the final hurdle, Will be defo be trying out all the tips and tricks Tim showed us on the way.

What are you doing with yours? I thought I might make a hanging from them to inspire me through the year.

Thank you to Artyjen for linking us all to the 12 days of tags there is some amazing art to look at over there.

Other Stamps used Stampin' Up

Bye for now

12 Days of Christmas Tags

2010-12-12T13:05:00.001Z

Day 9

My DH has shared his man flu which he had last week and Friday I went down with it so have spent a miserable few days moping around feeling very sorry for myself.......... feeling a little better today so thought I would share with you day 9 Tag.
When this tag was posted my thoughts turned to how to make a rosette by hand and while I was still thinking about all the scoring and such like Postie arrived with my Tim Holtz Alterations Rosette Die - see me do dance around the hall Whooooo Hooooo sent hot post from Wendy at The Stamp Attic, thank you thank you thank you, I couldn't believe my eyes as I have been waiting patiently (not) for the stock to arrive in UK.
So rushed into my room of craft and got cutting I love how easy it is to make a rosette and I also used Vintage Market Die for the Word Noel, I used lace as believe it or not I couldn't find a single piece of tinsel in this old house of mine!!!!!!
The last few days of tags have been spectacular and I am sorry today is the last day, will try to catch up with the last three during all the Christmas madness.

Thanks to everyone who has commented on my blog I really do appreciate your comments and in such a busy time too. I will try and leave as many comments as time allows but to all you 12 days of taggers I think your art is fantastic and there are some great interpretations of Tim's Tags over at ArtyJen pop over and feast your eyes on some fantastic tags.

Bye for now

CCC Week 24

2010-12-10T08:02:00.001Z

Week 24 Distress Stickles posted by Linda at Studio L3 these challenges are only being posted every 2 weeks for a while and it seemed such a long wait for week 24 challenge to come round even though we have had a T!m fix meanwhile with the 12 days of Christmas tags, so now for a while we can play with our TH stash everyday whooo hooo!! This said I am sooooooooooooooooooooooo far behind with my Christmas preparations that I thought I had better make a Christmas Tag that fits in with this weeks CCC. I expect DH with get this one on his present from Santa (haven't bought any yet!!) I used my new texture fade embossing folder (TH) for this tag and DI wild honey and brushed corduroy and perfect pearls for background colour and of course Distress Stickles. Now Linda asked that we try very hard to get the sparkle to show - well I did try very hard honest I did Linda :D.

Until next time

Bye for now

12 day of Christmas.... Tags

2010-12-09T07:41:00.000Z

Day 8......Over the roof tops

Another great tag over at Tim Holtz 12 days of Christmas but boohoo, I had no ingredients for tag 8 recipe, so I improvised there's that word again and did it my way, oh no now I've got that song buzzing around in my head and it will be there all day lol. Santa was stamped from Stylish Christmas plate Creative Expressions and the houses are Stampin' Up! set Good Neighbors, swirls are TH stamp, loved the wire for smoke so tried it out but now think the smoke is a bit big for the houses now I have put the tag together.
Only a very short time now until today's tag is posted oh what excitement, 'till tomorrow or later today!!!

Bye for now

WOYWW

2010-12-08T10:21:00.000Z

Have only shown my desk once here so thought in a moment of madness I would join in today this is how it looked as I walked in to my room of craft this morning! What you can't see is the floor - no you can't see the floor I had to pick my way in between stash I had pulled out last night and left there!!!

As you can see it is untidy although I like to think creative more than messy you will see some of the 12 tags of Christmas propped up and drying as I left them last night no point clearing away as I will be making today's tag later hopefully - have you looked yet it is my favourite to date I love Santa in his sleigh.

Bye for now

BRRRR..... Freezing weather Poor birds

2010-12-08T10:06:00.000Z

Feeding the Birds

We have taken pity on the pheasants that appear at our house every morning and more and more are coming each day in this freezing weather so I thought you may like to see some pics taken this morning out of the kitchen window DH braved the cold at 6.30am -6 before work to take out the feed. Photos are not as clear as they should be .....think the windows want cleaning no chance when there is so much crafting to be done LOL.

Total count of pheasants this morning was 11 2 male and the rest females

Even the Blackbird got some breakfast he was soon there

Have to go and defrost car hope it starts we are off to see grandson in school play today Ahhhhh cant wait I'm so excited.

Bye for now

12 Days of Christmas Tags Day 6 & 7

2010-12-07T20:13:00.000Z

2 Posts in one day!! I just had to play tonight and catch up on the 12 days of Tags posted by Tim Holtz everyday

Tags for Day 6 and 7 have been finished and are still drying as I took photo, had a great time again with these and a lot of improvising again.

Day 6 as I don't have the reindeer die I used the only one I had and he's just a baby really think he may be lost in the forest - no not really lol. The trinket is from my stash and says "follow" which I thought appropriate.

Day 7 I made the flower from card and it doesn't bend so well. Had great fun again hope to play again tomorrow.

will link these 2 tags at Artyjen blog too, there are some amazing tags over there, have fun 'till tomorrow (hopefully)

Playing Tag ...........

2010-12-07T12:47:00.000Z

........Catch Up

After a busy weekend away at a Christmas Dinner and seeing friends Monday's weather here was freezing fog brrrrrrr and sooooo cold, I couldn't see further than the end of the garden all day, so I decided to stay in and play tag! Each Day Tim Holtz is making a new tag Pop over and see they are such fun to do and today's tag is just sooooo gorgeous (think a lot of improvising will be happening on this one as yesterdays too) Here are the tags I made yesterday. Quite a bit of improvisation going on!!

Day 3

Day 4

Day 3 really enjoyed this one had to improvise on the small card as I don't have any vintage Christmas papers the tape flower was a great tutorial I got very stuck up and laughed along the way defo a technique that's needs more practice from me! did any one else get all sticky - or is it just me?
For day 4 I didn't have any Facets so used a fragment not the same but I did the same technique on it, also didn't have any suitable papers as I usually don't use them much so I stamped Santa onto tag and added some gems. Very much an inspired tag.
Day 5 I actually did this tag first as I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it. As I didn't have the metal numbers I used grungeboard numbers and painted them and embossed them - I love how they bubbled up and the effect that gave.I love metal embossing and the flowers turned out great using the powder colours I had you eagle eyed crafters out there will see I have also improvised in other areas too.

I only have day 6 and today's tag to do now which hopefully I will be able to do today and post before tonight. Will link these to Artyjen's site too where all the people playing along with the 12 tags for Christmas are linking.

Blogger is playing up big time and nothing is going where I put it even the text hope it is readable when I post!!!!
Bye for now

12 Days of Christmas Tags

2010-12-02T20:18:00.000Z

The Master of Tags Tim Holtz has created again Day 2

Here is my tag for today again I had to improvise with what I had really enjoyed playing and there were some amazing tips in today's tutorial will have to get some felt pad and try them out!!

This is way too much fun!

I have a busy few days in front of me so will have to play catchup with the tags next week only hope I can catch up

Bye for now

Maggie

12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS TAGS

2010-12-02T08:07:00.000Z

CLICK TO BE TRANSPORTED TO A MAGIC LAND

YIPPEE the day has finally (well yesterday 1st Dec) arrived and the Master Tim Holtz is once again transporting us for 12 days with his special magic to a land of Christmas tags click the link and join the fun.

After waiting and waiting for the post to go up I was eager to get started but to my dismay I had not got 2 of the dies Tim used, so with his word ringing in me ears "think outside the box" I not only thought outside I took a big leap - well I was determined to play even though I didn't manage to post on the 1st as everything was wet and drying. Here is my take on the first tag.

Yep I told you I was right outside that box - my thoughts were the bird cage is a "house" for the bird and I crinkled it to look rickety - still with me, if so I then took the elements of Tims tag. I followed all the steps, had to improvise along the way with what I had in my stash I was pleased with the result and I at least got to play. Thinking I might just need that house die though pleeeeeease Santa.

'till the next tag

Bye for now

Week 23 CC Challenge

2010-11-24T20:46:00.002Z

Double Distress!

CC Challenge is here again and this week Linda over at Studio L3 has said turn to page 40 so I did and this is what I made yes another tag, I seem to only think tags at the moment with everything else thats going on they are quick to make.

I used DI tumbled glass, broken china, chipped sapphire. Stamps are TH Mini Holidays stamped and embossed in white.

I had a great time tonight getting all inky my finger tips are blue - not with the cold although it is freezing outside snow has been forecast for later in the week we will wait and see! Brrrrrrr .

Bye for now